Meet The Team
Coach, Trainer, Consultant & DISC Facilitator
Shirleyann Jones - Founder
Hello, as the founder and director of SJ Educoach Limited, I bring an extensive range of skills and experience to leadership training, coaching and consultancy. I have wealth of corporate and educational experience which includes six years in executive recruitment and twenty-six years in education: comprising two headships, one in London and one in Dubai. I have honed a unique blend of corporate and educational expertise and have used this to develop my forte in Leadership and Management Training, Life Coaching, Educational Coaching, and Consultancy.
Combined, these skills enable me to approach personal and professional development holistically with my clients.
My career has been dedicated to fostering growth and excellence, allowing individuals and teams to reach aspirational milestones. The transformative power of coaching is at the heart of my practice, providing a vital space for leaders to cultivate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the resilience needed to thrive under pressure. I firmly believe that everyone deserves a guide to navigate their journey to success and fulfilment.
Leadership demands can be overwhelming, but through my coaching, leaders and their teams learn to manage stress, align their values with their work, and drive positive organisational change. As an accredited DISC personality and Behaviour facilitator, I empower clients to understand interpersonal dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build cohesive, high-performing teams. This is evident from the remarkable outcomes experienced by my clients resulting in schools and organisations that have engaged with our High-Performing Team Coaching (HPTC) programme, achieving accolades such as the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ judgment.
My track record in change management and improving educational settings is proven, with successful interventions lifting schools out of challenging situations. Beyond my school roles, I’ve supported the broader educational landscape by training corporate leaders and aspiring educational leaders, conducting peer inspections, and facilitating NPQ (National Professional Qualifications) leadership qualifications.
With a passion for nurturing current and future leaders, my mission is to unlock the potential within each individual, group or team that I work with, propelling them toward unprecedented heights of achievement—one step at a time.
Trainer, Consultant
Maria Maher - Associate
In my 37 years immersed in East London’s educational landscape, I have thrived in the roles of both a primary teacher and a leader. My journey included a pivotal five-year period as a school improvement consultant for the Local Authority, where I led a dynamic team focused on refining math and literacy strategies. Despite the challenges, my heart always pulled me back to the school environment, leading me to cap off my career as the headteacher of a Newham school for the past decade.
My unwavering determination lies in empowering leaders and educators to maximize their time and energy, amidst the demanding nature of the profession. From decision-making and delegation to effective communication with governors and the community, I understand the daily challenges that confront leaders and am here to help on all fronts.
During my tenure as headteacher, I actively engaged in joint peer reviews of primary schools, firmly believing in the dual role of leaders as both supportive and challenging figures. Trust, in my view, is the cornerstone of effective leadership, and it’s a value I have consistently championed, throughout my career. I hold firmly to the belief that school improvement originates from within, flourishing when fuelled by vision, trust, and a clear understanding of the process and outcomes.
In today’s educational landscape, leaders grapple with myriad challenges, requiring strategic prowess, collaborative efforts with other institutions, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of both children and staff for optimal outcomes.
My passion has always centred around making a tangible difference in children’s lives through education. I have dedicated myself to mentoring and supporting early career teachers, senior staff members, and fellow headteachers. My commitment to the idea that schools can truly make a difference remains unshakable. The journey is about more than just education; it’s about creating lasting impact and shaping futures.
English Additional Language (EAL) Teacher Trainer
Ros Malick - Associate
Hi, I’m Ros. My journey as an educational professional span nearly four decades, marked by an unwavering dedication to transforming teaching practices. I emerged as one of the pioneering Literacy Consultants during the inception of the National Literacy Strategy, and from there, my path led me to become a regional English Adviser, influencing teachers, teaching assistants, and parents with innovative methodologies.
As a lead ‘in-borough trainer’ for English as an Additional Language (EAL) in east London, I set the stage for progress and innovation. What sets me apart is that, while climbing the ranks of school senior leadership in the UK, I remained firmly rooted in the classroom. This commitment fuelled the evolution of effective EAL strategies, showcasing my enduring passion and expertise.
I am a fervent advocate for methods that drive the accelerated progress of bilingual learners, unlocking curriculum access techniques that not only benefit EAL students but also enhance the learning journey for every student in the classroom.
My focus centers on empowering schools with visionary leadership, fostering staff development, and deepening understanding in English language acquisition. My impact leaves a lasting legacy of proven practices that stand the test of inspections because they work!
In the past four years, I have taken my expertise to the UAE, assuming a senior leadership role with responsibility for English and EAL. Collaborating with staff, I’ve led the delivery of the English curriculum to Emirati students, seamlessly merging my expertise with cultural nuances and sensitivity. My journey continues, driven by the belief that transformative education knows no boundaries.
Coach, Trainer & Consultant
Anne Kibuuka- Associate
My extensive leadership background spans 12 years as a Nursery School Headteacher and 25 years leading multi-professional teams in the field of special education. Additionally, with over five years of experience as a qualified ILM level 7 executive coach, I bring a dynamic approach to supporting leaders in educational and diverse settings.
One of my notable accomplishments was spearheading the restructuring of Early Years SEND funding in collaboration with the Local Authority. This initiative included the incorporation of assessment placements in maintained Nursery Schools and other Early Years settings, enhancing the overall support for special educational needs.
Having served as the Early Years representative on the school’s forum for four years, I played a pivotal role in successfully negotiating funding for the establishment of an Early Years SEND Hub. My strategic budget management for over 30 high-needs children in my maintained nursery school included overseeing the allocation for a part-time speech and language therapist, a SEND family support worker, and lead practitioners.
My leadership journey includes a significant tenure as the Headteacher of a maintained nursery school with a Children’s Centre from 2007 to 2019. Also, I founded and led an Early Years Inclusion support service for the Local Authority for seven years. More recently, along with colleagues at SJ Educoach, I actively participated in an Early Years stakeholder engagement project for Kent County Council, contributing to the ongoing dialogue and development within the sector.
My commitment to staying at the forefront of education is evident through my continuous professional development and a keen focus on research. Beyond my personal growth, I channel my expertise into offering training and consultancy support to schools and settings, ensuring a ripple effect of knowledge and improvement throughout the educational landscape. My passion lies in being a catalyst for positive change and progress within the Early Years and broader educational community.
Coach, Trainer & Consultant
Asari St-Hill- Associate
I have been coaching and training business owners, senior executives, and staff for over 30 years. I spent over 25 years in public service – in senior management positions in social housing and at the Audit Commission as an Inspector. I also spent 6 years on the Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust Board as a Non-Executive Director and for 9 years on the Audit & Risk Committee of Newlon Housing Association.
I have been self-employed since 2011, when I embarked on a career in business coaching. My clients range from major corporates like Kier Transportation, colleges, and large charities (like Victim Support) through to micro businesses and the self-employed individuals. My key subjects are inclusive leadership, effective management, and a range of subjects across equality, diversity, and inclusion. I have been a Diversity Advisor for the National Centre for Diversity for over eleven years and for the Irish Centre for Diversity for over four years.
Trainer & Consultant
Laura Hewer- Associate
Hello, I’m Laura, and I bring over 30 years of dynamic experience in primary education, with a significant tenure in successful headship roles in the challenging landscape of London.
Throughout my career, my unwavering focus has been on ensuring that students achieve the best possible outcomes, providing them with the tools to shape their own future. Notably, during my leadership at a school in Newham, our pupil progress consistently ranked among the top 10% in the country.
Beyond individual school leadership, I’ve extended my impact to the Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) level, serving as a Trust Leader of Education. Here, my emphasis has been on driving school improvement across diverse educational settings. I’ve collaborated effectively with leaders to pinpoint areas for enhancement, craft actionable plans, establish policies, and deliver impactful staff training.
My mentoring experience spans leaders at all levels, amplifying their skills and capabilities. Additionally, I’ve contributed to the educational community by delivering and facilitating NPQH training for the Institute of Education at UCL.
I believe in the transformative power of effective leadership to elevate schools and empower them to achieve exceptional results and I am looking forward to bringing my wealth of experience to your educational journey.