Uphill Junior School has a staff of excellent teachers: Meet four people who are inspiring the next generation in rural Uganda.
Teacher Joan
Joan worked in several roles at Uphill including Deputy Head and Bursar, in addition to classroom teaching. She is a local girl, born in the same county as the school, and was keen to join Uphill as it has a great reputation in the area and she wanted to her knowledge and skills to help local children. She was on the staff from 2018 -2021.
Joan taught Primary 4 and 5 as well as training the debating team and teaching music at all levels in the school. She enjoyed being a member of the administration team, finding her fellow staff both willing and enthusiastic and is always keen to learn new skills. Prompt and reliable salary payment is especially appreciated!
Praise for Joan from J in Primary 7:
‘Teacher Joan is my music teacher. She teaches me good gospel songs and meaningful, educative non-gospel songs. She also encourages me to behave well among old and young people and advises me how to unite with my fellows and be a disciplined child. She does everything to make my future bright.”
Teacher Sedrack
Sedrack was at Uphill from 2018-2021 and, like Joan, was born in Kasenda sub-county. He was happy to join a local school with a good learning environment and was motivated by a desire to serve his community.
He taught Primary 4 and 5 and his skill as a graphic artist is still evident on the classroom walls! Sedrack was the Head of Sports and coached the school soccer teams.
He enjoyed the positive outlook of the school and being a member of a staff team that is full of ideas. He too appreciated the regular and timely payment of salaries – not common in Ugandan schools!
Teacher Priscillar
Priscillar moved to Iruhuura to join Uphill in 2018. She was motivated by the good reputation Uphill has amongst her friends in Fort Portal. She likes the fact that the school encourages teachers to use their special skills and that it empowers the community it serves.
Priscillar taught children in Primary 1-3. She was a member of the music team and taught netball, as well as being the school Chaplain.
She very much enjoyed working in a good looking school with nice buildings, good levels of welfare for both children and staff, and the skill-sharing ethos of her fellow teachers.
Priscillar and Sedrack married in 2019 and have a baby daughter. She says meeting the love of her life at Uphill was a great achievement! They both moved onto on in 2021 to continue to develop their careers in other schools.
Teacher Patrice
Patrice moved to Uphill after teaching in schools in different areas. He was impressed by the good human resource management at Uphill, which he had not seen elsewhere. He also liked the fact that the pupils at Uphill have a great enthusiasm to learn.
He taught Primary 6 and 7 and was Director of Studies for the school. Patrice was an invaluable member of the Uphill farm project and helped to ensure the success of the vegetable garden and the piggery.
He enjoyed the good relations between the Uphill teachers and parents and the respect shown for teacher rights and welfare.
Patrice also met his future wife at Uphill – he and long-serving teacher Judith also married in 2019 and they have a baby son. The family moved to a different area once the COVID lockdowns were lifted.
Praise for Patrice from I in Primary 7:
“I would like to thank teacher Patrice for all he has done for me. He has taught me how to feed, care and maintain pigs, and how to clean their sties. I love him so much and I wish to start a piggery project of my own after the Primary Leaving Examination.”
All the Uphill teachers are paid by The Uphill Trust and we rely on regular donations from our core supporters to meet this important monthly cost.
Can you help keep a good teacher at Uphill?
Tags: importance of teachers, inspirational teachers, Uphill Junior School
