Karen Norton has been awarded an MBE for her lifelong services to education. The retired head of Junction Farm school in Stockton, Karen talks about her upbringing in Middlesbrough with a close, supportive family. She recalls how her parents were the first people in her family to own their own home. She describes the culture shock of going to university in inner-city Birmingham and her experience of working at a multi-cultural nursery school before her first primary teaching job in Ingleby Barwick. 
 
Karen discusses the importance of greeting her pupils at the school-gate every morning, the unpredictability of a day as Headteacher, the impossibility of work-life balance, and the challenges she faced as both a parent and head teacher. In addition, she lists her heroes, her achievements and the shock of being awarded an MBE for her work.
 
Interviewed by Paul Pearce-Burton. Audio Mastered by Barry Han. Edited by Damian Wright.
Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund
For full transcript please contact [email protected]
 
The words and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Periplum, or any other individual, organisation or funding body associated with the interview.

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