OBV Profile: Gloria Hyatt

In 1998 the Elimu Academy in Liverpool became a successful school for predominately Black secondary school pupils and made a huge statement schooling pupils who were excluded, faced exclusion or were high achievers.

Today Hyatt, 40, the former head teacher of the academy, is no longer directly involved in the teaching field but is the director and education consultant for Teach Consultancy, an education, training and recruitment resource.

Describing the consultancy which has been in operation since 2004 Hyatt says, "We advise and mentor local authorities, private, public sectors and voluntary sectors, mainly Black and racial minorities providing management review, and funding needs."

As head teacher for the Elimu Academy Hyatt made history. She successfully transformed the academy into an independent school, providing an extended school after school service. Elimu employed 25 staff members from Black and minority ethnic communities and delivered courses for adult learners to give classroom assisted learning. But it took five years before the Local Authority would fund and recognise it as an independent school.

For her achievements, in 2003 Gloria Hyatt was awarded a Member of the British Empire (M.B.E.) for services to education and later in the same year she was given a Merseyside Women of the Year Award.

Her decision to become a teacher she believes was because Black children were not getting the education they deserved. Hyatt, mother of a 19-year-old son, adds, "I felt I could relate, understand and have something to give because there was and still is a shortage of Black teachers."

Hyatt was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, to an Irish mother and Jamaican father but spent many of her formative years in foster care homes.

She explains that while growing up in Liverpool racism and segregation was visible and still is to this day. She adds, "It was part of my daily life growing up, it was either direct or subtle and it presented itself differently in the different social classes."

Despite this she says she met some very influential people while in foster care. "One of my foster parents was a teacher; she influenced me on the value of education and what is possible with education."

Hyatt kept that in mind and completed a B.ed English degree from John Moores University in 1993 and then in 2002 she attained a Masters in Education and Management from Liverpool University.

Currently she is a founding member of the campaign against racial terrorism, member of the General Teaching Council for education matters and a neighbourhood renewal advisor.

Earlier this year Hyatt launched Ebony Recruitment Solutions to encourage more recruitment from black and minority ethnic communities.

Reflecting on her eight years as head teacher at the Elimu Academy she says, "That was a time, a period in my life that I thoroughly enjoyed. I gained a lot seeing people achieve."

"When I got a MBE in 2003 for services in education, it wasn't about me but it was a testament of the work and staff, it was about all of our contributions."

For the future Hyatt plans to continue to further her work as an education consultant adding, "I would like to go to America because there is a world of opportunity out there for me. I can transfer some of the things I'm doing here and share that with them."

For further information about Teach Consultancy and Ebony Recruitment Solutions visit:

www.teachconsultancy.com
www.ebonyrecruitmentsolutions.co.uk