Personal statement

Nova joined the University of Strathclyde's Institute of Education on a full-time basis in October 2019, having worked in the primary sector for 25 years. She began her career in Glasgow City Council where she spent 15 happy years working as a Class Teacher, Senior Teacher, Principal Teacher and Depute Head Teacher. A move to East Renfrewshire saw her take up her first Head Teacher post and then to Renfrewshire as Head Teacher of a wonderful school.

Nova's key research focus is currently her Ed.D. The working title for this research is ‘They just get it’: Scottish Head Teachers’ Stories about Teachers who are adept at supporting children with distressed behaviour.  The aim of the research is to listen to the voices of primary Head Teachers and hear their stories and experiences of the teachers they have encountered that ‘just get it’ when dealing with distressed children.

Nova was delighted to be appointed as Course Leader for the Into Headship programme in June 2023 and is currently focused on making improvements to this already well-established course.  She is committed to providing outstanding student experience and this is at the centre of her practice.

Internal Citizenship roles include being a member of the Institute of Education Ethics Committee and serving as Academic Selector for the PGDE Primary Programme.  Nova also undertakes external citizenship roles, including being a member of the National Into Headship Design Group and the Executive Secretary for ASPE (The Association for the Study of Primary Education).

Nova is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is currently undertaking an application to become a Senior Fellow.