My son was an A* maths student last year. This year his grades slipped a bit as the syllabus got more challenging. He had a term of tuition with Miss Nikki and his grades went right back up again. He enjoyed his weekly sessions and it really helped to develop his knowledge base and his confidence!
Emma Kendall BA (hons), PGCE (primary)
School Director
Miss Emma founded Footsteps in 2014, along with Miss Bryony. Since then she has built the business from a small, mobile tutoring company into the fully operational school we have today. Emma is passionate about the education and happiness of the children in her care and is determined to build and lead a strong team of committed, happy professionals. Emma is an experienced primary school teacher, originally from Yorkshire, England. As well as her degree in combined studies (Psychology, Education, Music and English) and her teaching qualification, she also holds a level 4 diploma in Child Psychology and is currently working towards a level 7 postgraduate diploma in Educational Leadership, as well as carrying out her school leadership qualification (NPQH). Before moving to Cayman, Emma worked in a large, inspirational independent school in Leeds and spent her summers volunteering at summer camps and in children’s homes in the UK, Bali and India. Emma is a musician - she plays piano to grade 8 and loves to sing. She hopes that music and drama will be an integral part of school life at Footsteps! Emma has lived in Cayman since 2013 along with her husband and is now Mum to three little girls.
Bryony Platt BA (hons), PGCE (primary)
School Director
Miss Bryony, alongside Miss Emma, founded Footsteps in 2014, after recognising the need for more student support on island. Bryony is excited about the expansion of Footsteps into a primary school and the prospect of providing something unique for the children of the Cayman Islands. Bryony is a qualified Primary and Early Years teacher and is currently working towards her school leadership qualification (NPQH). Having originally trained as an early years Nursery Nurse (NNEB), she continued into teaching and has over 20 years of experience of working with children from a wide range of backgrounds and ages. Miss Bryony has lived and worked in Grand Cayman for 12 years. She spent 6 years teaching in KG and Year 1 at Cayman Prep, followed by a management role in a Cayman preschool. She also has several years of experience as a private tutor on island. In her spare time, Bryony enjoys playing field hockey and is the captain of the ladies’ team.
Benjamin Desrosiers
Inclusion Specialist, Teacher of RE and 'Healthy Me, Healthy World'
Mr Ben moved to Grand Cayman with his wife and three children in March 2020. He has 20 years of experience working with children with Special Educational Needs in Primary settings both in specialist and inclusive mainstream schools. Growing up in Southeast England, Canadian born Ben studied Theology at Oxford Westminster College before moving to London to further train and work in education. He has, over the last 20 years, gained a wide range of experience working with children with additional learning needs both as a teacher and a manager. Mr Ben is committed to ensuring that every child achieves their full potential and is a valued member of the Footsteps community.
Eloise Jones (BSc Hons), PGDE (Primary)
Ripples Classroom Teacher
Miss Eloise has a PGDE in Primary Education with a specialism in Early Years Education.
She moved to Grand Cayman in 2021 and has been particularly enjoying exploring all of the marine life. Before becoming a teacher she worked within a Special Needs school in the UK that supported children who require a supportive and nurturing learning environment to reach their potential. Miss Eloise has a BSc from the University of Bristol where she gained a degree in Childhood Studies and she is now working towards her NPQSL. She strives for a classroom where all the children feel equal and you will never go too long without hearing children's laughter. Aside from her love of teaching she loves to keep active and has a passion for healthy cooking and baking!
Alison Scheepers BA (Hons), PGCE (Primary)
Waves Classroom Teacher
Miss Alison is a qualified British Primary Teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience, both in the UK and overseas. She moved to Cayman in 2014 and she has been teaching at Footsteps since 2016. Miss Alison is a phonics and reading specialist and she is particularly enthusiastic about teaching our younger students. Miss Alison’s warm and friendly demeanor puts all children at ease. She has a tangible passion for learning, using different teaching strategies to support children in areas that are challenging whilst also extending them to their full potential. Miss Alison loves teaching as it gives her the opportunity to impact on a child’s learning, development and confidence. She enjoys living in Cayman and has an active lifestyle, particularly enjoying water sports, dancing, yoga and aqua-aerobics.
Simon Hutton BA (Hons), PGCE (Primary)
Whirlpools Classroom Teacher, French teacher and Social and Emotional Development Lead
Mr Sims is a qualified primary school teacher with 10 years’ experience working in schools in the U.K. Mr Sims has extensive experience in SEND, particularly social and emotional development, and carried out his teacher training in the first trauma informed school in the U.K, specialising in attachment theory. Mr Sims is a fluent French speaker and spent 4 years living in the French Alps working for a ski operator before returning to the U.K to embark on his teaching career. He moved to Cayman just last year, after having never even been on a beach holiday! He is looking forward to immersing himself in Caymanian culture, taking advantage of the water sports available on the island and climbing on Cayman Brac.
Catherine Kenny BA (Hons) PGCE
Support Teacher and KS1 English Lead
Miss Catherine has been teaching for 12 years, thriving in varying roles and schools. She has held responsibilities such as Head of Primary, Deputy Head and English Leader in England, Cyprus and Grand Cayman. Teaching English is Catherine’s passion, ensuring students master core skills in reading and writing. She has provided systematic school-to-school support for early English skills and is a Specialist Leader of Education. Catherine has completed further training with the National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership. She is also trained to deliver outdoor learning programmes with her Forest School Level 3 training and is looking forward to delivering weekly sessions in the great outdoors, inspiring children beyond the classroom environment. Miss Catherine moved to Grand Cayman in 2017, weeks after her wedding. She lives with her husband, two preschool daughters and their rescue dog. Her weekends often include dog walks and trips to the beach for swimming and paddleboarding.
Natalie Scott BA (Hons) PGCE
Surfers (Year 7) Class Teacher and Head of English
Miss Scott moved to Grand Cayman in 2019, after spending her holidays here, finally following her younger sister to this beautiful island. She has been teaching for over 20 years, trained at the University of Cambridge as a Secondary English teacher and since then has worked in a range of settings in the UK, but also in refugee camps in France and private schools abroad. Whilst teaching English is her passion, she has also taught drama, media studies, art and psychology. As a teacher Natalie has worked hard to stay on top of educational research and changes. She is a qualified Advanced Skills Teacher, a Specialist Leader of Education and in recent years, was granted a Fellowship from the Chartered College of Teaching. She has contributed to a number of Educational books, spoken publicly about her experiences and passion for teaching and was voted The Times’ Educational Blogger of the Year in 2016. Whilst she has always been driven by her career- one which has given her a number of wonderful experiences managing and leading schools and national recognition for her skills in school improvement- and still cares deeply about making a difference, she moved here to spend more time with her loved ones; to beach walk; to read good books by a pool; gain a few more freckles and laughter lines and spend more time outdoors. She can be found exercising most days, in order to work off her love of pizza.
Steven Flight (BExSc, PGDE, MTeach)
Teacher of Physical Education, Science and Outdoor Learning
Mr Steven joined the Footsteps team in 2021. Mr Steven has moved to Grand Cayman from Melbourne, Australia. Combining his love for sport, exercise and the outdoors with his teaching, Mr Steven is excited to be leading our Physical Education, Science and Outdoor Learning programs. After growing up in a small country town in Australia, Mr Steven moved to Melbourne to study a bachelor of Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University. He then completed his Master of Teaching at the University of Melbourne in 2012. Since graduating, he has worked at a number of inner-city schools where he has held many positions of leadership including year level coordinator and curriculum development. Mr Steven values experiential learning and hopes to instill a passion for sport and the outdoor environment in his students.
Charlotte Hubble BA (Hons), PGCE
PE Teacher and Ripples Classroom Teacher
Miss Charlotte moved to Grand Cayman in 2021 and will be continuing to teach both PE and Ripples this academic year. She previously worked for an international private school in the UK where she taught PE from Nursery to Year 13, specializing in Early Years and KS1. During her teaching career she coached and mentored several scholars who have gone on to compete for England. Miss Charlotte has a BA (Hons) PGCE from the University of Chichester where she gained a degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching. She is a bubbly, highly personable and enthusiastic teacher, who takes pride in her teaching and wants to give every student the best possible chance to succeed in their education. In her spare time, Miss Charlotte loves to play sports, eat at Cassanova and top up her tan on the beach!
Chantel Simm, Inclusion assistant and therapist
Miss Chantel is our inclusion therapist, who has over 10 years of experience working with neurodiverse children of all ages in home and school settings, in both Canada and Cayman. She attended York University in Toronto where she studied Psychology, went on to complete a postgrad in Behaviour therapy and currently finishing her Masters in Counselling Psychology. She is committed to creating healthy emotional and social development while supporting a child’s unique educational journey through the creation of specialized curriculums. Outside of work, Miss Chantel enjoys yoga and playing flag football for the Cayman National team.
Katie Bloomfield BA (Hons) PGCE
Learning Support Assistant and Teacher of Art
Miss Katie (B) is our specialist art and design technology teacher and coordinator at Footsteps. She is here to ensure an inclusive, safe and fun environment where creativity and curiosity take centre stage, igniting a lifelong love for art and learning. In addition to her degree in textile design, Miss Katie has over ten years’ experience teaching in a variety of schools for all years and key stages, from reception to A-Level, including inner city academies, independent, private and secondary schools, as well as coordinating and delivering art foundation courses to post A-Level students. Before arriving at Footsteps, Miss Katie supported students with a diverse range of additional learning needs in a busy SEN department on island. She has now become a one to one learning support mentor in addition to her art teaching role. Miss Katie also runs a very popular after school art and craft club twice a week during term time. As a mental health advocate, Miss Katie has a passion for good mental health and wellness in schools, and has been involved in the Alex Panton Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program, attending symposiums and running wellness clubs. Miss Katie’s other passions are painting (especially animals), music, spinning (the cycling classes!) and travelling. You will often catch her in her happy place, Seven Mile Beach, or diving with turtles!
Katie Gunn BA (Hons)
Breakers Classroom Teacher and Teacher of Spanish
Miss Katie (G) has a BA Hons in Primary Education from the University of Brighton and has recently moved to Grand Cayman from the UK. Miss Katie prides herself on building strong relationships with her pupils enabling them to flourish and meet their full potential. Originally from West Sussex, England, Miss Katie has worked in both KS2 and EYFS, leading Spanish for two years at her previous school. Miss Katie also has a Level 2 qualification in supporting Forest School and is very excited to experience our beach and nature days on the island. Miss Katie is enthusiastic in everything that she does and in her spare time enjoys paddle boarding, cooking, and traveling! She is looking forward to exploring the island and learning more about life in Cayman!
Becky Turner BEd (Hons)
Tides Class Teacher and Maths Lead
Miss Becky has a degree in Primary Education from the University of Gloucestershire and has been teaching in the UK for the last 6 years. She aims to create a happy classroom, where children are both supported and challenged to reach the very best of their ability. Miss Becky is looking forward to taking on the role of Maths lead too - it has always been a subject she has enjoyed and she hopes help others to enjoy it too. She previously assisted with the running of a Brownie unit for 3 years and is keen to reprise that role here. In her spare time, she enjoys running, playing netball and reading a good mystery novel - especially now she can do this on the beach!
Danielle DeCecco BEd (Hons)
Splashes Class Teacher
Miss Danielle moved to Grand Cayman in 2022 and has a first-class degree in Primary and Early Years Education from the University of Huddersfield. Prior to her degree she worked in an independent early years setting and as a private child-minder. Miss Danielle is an enthusiastic teacher whose passion for ‘learning through play’, encourages curiosity, creativity and inspires a lifelong love of learning. She hopes to create a happy classroom environment and strong relationships to motivate and challenge children, extending them to achieve their full potential. In her spare time, Miss Danielle enjoys snorkeling, cooking, yoga and long walks on the beach. She also enjoys doing mechanical work on her 1974 VW Campervan, wild-camping and attending festivals.
Harriet Kent HLTA
Breakers Class Teaching Assistant
Miss Harriet visited the Cayman Islands in 2019 on vacation and after seeing how beautiful the island was, she decided to move here! Miss Harriet holds eight years experience working as a teaching assistant in primary schools back in the UK and has recently qualified as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA). Miss Harriet is a fun, approachable person who enjoys working with children across the whole school and encouraging them to flourish in all areas of school life. Miss Harriet loves sports, and you will often find her playing hockey, netball and Gaelic football throughout the year! In her spare time away from the sports field, she likes to spend time on the beach, enjoys the sea and is looking forward to exploring the rest of what the island has to offer.
Taryn Thompson
Splashes Class Teaching Assistant
Miss Taryn grew up in Toronto, Canada and started her profession in Early Childhood in 1998, where she was introduced to the "Playing to Learn" curriculum. With a passion for learning new ways to nurture and stimulate the minds of young children, Taryn moved to the Cayman Islands in 2006 where she was a beloved early years teacher. Taryn returned to Canada to complete her studies and graduated with honors in June 2015 from the Early Childhood Education and Child Development Program to become a certified member of the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators.
With her love for the Cayman Islands, she returned in 2016 with her two daughters to continue her teaching career. Taryn is very happy to join the Footsteps family as their curriculum ties into her educational training and love for learning through nature and play!
Beverly Samuels
Tides Class Teaching Assistant
Miss Bev has recently moved to Grand Cayman and with her she brings her many years of educational experience. She started her career as a nurse, specialising in paediatrics in the UK in private and public hospitals. Bev moved on to work in a residential school working with young people who were facing many challenges. She then progressed to manage a children’s home, where she gained experience and counselling skills in the many ways of supporting children who had faced obstacles and trauma in their early years of life. Bev spent ten years in Dubai, where she ran her own workshops and enrichment classes, designing the lessons to be fun and educational. She passionately believes in learning through play. Bev has also worked in Bermuda where she set up their school library. Reading is a real passion of Bev’s and she wholeheartedly believes it is essential for every child’s development. For the last five years Miss Bev has lived and worked in Spain. During this time, she was employed as an SEN teacher at an international school. Here, she was giving educational support to pupils, whilst also providing extracurricular activities over all year groups. Bev is looking forward to the exciting opportunity of becoming a member of the team at Footsteps and using her wealth of experience to support the children. She believes that her caring nature and positive outlook has always helped the children in her care.
Miss Sarah - Music and Drama
Miss Sarah has been teaching music in both primary and secondary schools across the UK and Cayman Islands for the past 20 years and enjoys instilling the love of music in learners of all ages. She particularly focuses on violin/stringed instruments and curriculum classroom music, but is excited about also teaching piano, recorder and choir. Originally from Swansea in South Wales, Miss Sarah attended the Junior Department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before being accepted at Royal Holloway, University of London to earn her Batchelor degree in Music. Here she received violin lessons in conjunction with the RCM. Miss Sarah plays the violin with the Cayman National Orchestra where she is the lead violinist. She is also a member of CayForte String Quartet, performing for weddings and functions. In addition to the violin, Miss Sarah also loves playing the saxophone with her previous school’s swing band. Outside of the classroom, Miss Sarah loves to keep fit and is a qualified spin bike instructor, she enjoys salsa, yoga and other gym classes as well as reading, travel and walking her little dog on the beach.
Charlotte Lewis - Administration and Admissions
You will find Miss Charlie mostly in the office where she supports the school in a variety of administration processes, including admissions. She is qualified in Business Administration (NVQ 2 and 3) and has over 15 years experience working in marketing positions for large retailers in the UK. Miss Charlie loves working with children and dedicates much of her spare time volunteering as Commissioner of Girlguiding Cayman Islands, where she thrives on seeing the girls grow and develop new skills. Charlie moved to the Cayman Islands in 2013 with her husband and they now have 2 daughters.
Payal Paliwal - Private Tutor (Maths specialist)
Payal originates from India and has been living in Grand Cayman for almost 3 years. She holds a Bachelors in Engineering, a Post Graduate Diploma in Math Education and she is currently pursuing a Masters in Education. Payal has been teaching mathematics to children of all ages since 2014 with experience teaching in India, Thailand , Ecuador and the Cayman Islands. In her diverse teaching experience, she has worked with students with many different backgrounds, cultures, languages and abilities. Payal aims to move her students from procedural understanding to conceptual understanding. she is passionate about maths and hopes to inspire her students to share this passion.
