ACG member profiles: Pamela Stephens (BA History 1972)
After obtaining a degree in history and making valuable friends with whom she is still in touch and meeting her husband (to whom she is still married), Pamela obtained a PGCE and taught history and Latin for 9 years in a Gosforth comprehensive. Following this she has had a varied career in educational administration, action research, working with BME communities in Newcastle and setting up a community learning service.
As a freelance consultant Pamela wrote a crèche course enabling thousands of women to progress into training and employment. After managing a community education service, followed by a city wide community development project, she became Gateshead's Early Years and Childcare Manager, establishing the EY&CS and implementing the Sure Start/Children Centre programme before retiring in July 2010. Managing the Sure Start programme was the most satisfying and challenging part of Pamela’s career. She developed the service from a one employee, one room project to present, where Gateshead has 16 Children's Centres with a staff group of over 200.
Her varied work experience has enhanced Pamela’s organisational and communication aptitudes, but also given her a wide knowledge of the education and social care fields regionally and nationally. Using her breadth of experience, Pamela is aiming to contribute to the development of the University where she began her career.
Since retiring she has become the publicity officer for the University of the Third Age, taken up Pilates, and started learning Italian. She has also recently begun training to become a magistrate.