Jacqueline Baxter

My journey with the delightful DBS family began in 2019 when I joined the Primary Inclusion team as a KS2 Inclusion Assistant. Originally from London, I have been living in Dubai since 2009 with my husband and two daughters. Before embarking into the field of education four years ago, I worked as an Optometrist and even then it was the pediatric clinics I enjoyed the most. Having studied Neuroscience and Psychology, I was always intrigued by child development so when I was given the opportunity to engage in the world of learning, it was a dream come true! Four years later and I am still as enthusiastic walking into a classroom and watching these young minds grow. Being an avid reader and a lifelong learner myself, I thrive to pass my passion for books and the power of knowledge to my students. After working as an Assistant Teacher for two years in both KS1 and KS2, I retrained and expanded my skills to enter the Special Education Needs department. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend every day with other people who love what they do and to be able to learn from them. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and walking on the beach. Best Moment In Teaching Knowing that you have helped someone reach their true potential and to be present in that exact moment is a joy I had never experienced before teaching. Watching the children’s eyes light up with relief and appreciation for a concept they have just come to understand is just wonderful. I have witnessed generosity, perseverance and kindness in the classrooms as I have seen talent on the sports ground and in concerts. Being able to experience the result of the impact you make as an educator time and time again is exceptionally rewarding. Supporting the children through challenges and celebrating their successes and accomplishments is something I truly treasure.

Growing up I was always certain I wanted to be a teacher and work with children however, I was always unsure on which subject to pursue. Through school, I excelled in a variety of subjects. I then went on to carry out a degree in sports at Leeds Metropolitan University followed by moving to France and spending a year living and teaching in Paris across three schools. Following this, I completed a PGCE with QTS in Primary Education. My experiences up until this point equipped me with a breadth of knowledge and understanding of teaching a range of subjects. As a qualified teacher, I spent the first few years teaching in Early Years and Key Stage 1 in the UK. One day a week I would also teach French to KS2. Having 4 years of class teacher experience under my belt, I jumped at the chance to spend more time teaching French, a subject I am passionate about, in KS2 over here in Dubai. I started working at DBS in 2019 and have been fortunate enough to be the Primary French teacher and also be a part of the Inclusion team where I get to work alongside children outside of the subject French and support them in different areas. My previous experience of teaching other curriculum subjects ensures that all the children I work with receive quality first teaching whether it is French, mastery in maths or improving reading and writing through phonics. Best Moment In Teaching I absolutely love witnessing those light bulb moments in children! My two job roles at DBS allow me to experience these moments regularly. Particularly in French, I love giving the children the skills needed to learn a new language; it is very rewarding to see children understanding and speaking the language amongst their peers, they are so proud of themselves and rightly so!

I have worked in Education for the last 11 years. Working within Education was not something I had actually considered until watching my first child struggling through his early years at school. He was constantly misunderstood over the difficulties he was presented with. This really gave me the passion to retrain, enabling me to be there to support other children through what sometimes can be a hard time for them. I wanted to try to change people’s perceptions. Show every single child that they mattered. I want them to know that I will be by their side to support and guide them so they can reach their dreams! I have worked in both Mainstream and Special Educational Needs settings before being lucky enough to join the fabulous DBS Family. Best Moment In Teaching. I find it hard to pinpoint any one moment as I feel I am truly blessed in the career I have chosen. I get to see moments of greatness every single day! When a child achieves what they have worked so hard on, I have the absolute privilege to see the joy on their faces when they say….I did it!!