Meet some of our teachers
Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman
Isabelle has taught with Civitas Schools since 2013, teaching at three of our King’s Cross schools.
“I started teaching at Civitas Schools during my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at UCL. I now work as a Clinical Trial Manager for Cancer Research. Before joining Civitas, I had worked as a GCSE tutor and was really pleased to find the chance to teach small classes of younger students who can really benefit from the additional support. I really look forward to my weekly classes, it is so rewarding to see my students tackle challenging problems and become increasingly confident in their abilities. I have taught several children from Year 2 all the way to the end of Year 6 and have been so pleased with their progress and how much they seem to enjoy Civitas. Civitas Schools gives children an excellent opportunity to further their understanding of maths and English and it’s a real pleasure to be a part of the project.”
Rowena Gammon
Rowena has taught with Civitas Schools since 2008, leading our school in Wapping, and teaching children at one of our King’s Cross schools. She particularly enjoys working with children in support groups, who need a greater level of attention.
“I have taught in the Camberwell, Wapping and King’s Cross schools since 2008, and was also involved with the inception of Faraday, one of Civitas’ New Model secondary schools between 2009 and 2011. I studied geography at the London School of Economics and then worked in the headquarters business sector of one of the UK’s leading supermarket chains. I formally trained as a Montessori teacher, and that methodology stimulated an insight into how children learn and led me to develop an interest in teaching children who are struggling. I completed a Helen Arkell Dyslexia Diploma and moved on to work with autistic children in a specialist environment. I home schooled my five children for 2 years, and I continue to find teaching highly rewarding, and it is a pleasure to encourage and support the children who come to Civitas Schools and develop their academic achievements.”
Amna Siddiqui
Amna has taught with Civitas Schools since 2014 and currently leads one of our support schools in Kings Cross.
“I graduated with a first class degree in History from the University of Nottingham in 2010 and spent two years teaching English Literature at a boarding school in India. Since then, I have pursued a career in data and operations in the international aid sector and currently work in the data team at Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders UK. Civitas Schools has enabled me to continue my passion for teaching. I find it immensely rewarding to help our students discover the joy of learning about the world around them, encouraging their curiosity while also specifically building their skills in English and maths. I believe Civitas Schools is a fantastic project that enables our students to feel more confident and positive at school. I feel privileged to contribute to the academic journeys of all the children I teach.”