Sheffield primary teacher retires after 28 years at city school
“The children’s best interests have always been genuinely at the heart of all I have done”
A former costume designer who dressed the stars at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre then retrained to become a teacher has retired after 28 years.
For nearly three decades, Petra Joy has been a vibrant member of the team at Wybourn Community Primary School, but last week the much-loved teacher taught her last lesson to retire at the age of 60.
A mum of two daughters, Petra joined the school in 1998 when she was 32.
Prior to becoming a teacher she worked behind the scenes at the Crucible, where she helped make costumes for celebrities. Her first job there was to make a shirt for Hi de Hi star Sue Pollard. And when she moved into education she brought her creativity into the classroom.
The teacher, who hails from Heeley, said: "Creativity has always played a significant part in my approach to teaching. Wherever possible, I have drawn on the skills I learned in the past and incorporated them into my lessons.“I truly believe that the teaching of art and design in schools has a positive impact on pupils’ mental well-being."
Petra was arts coordinator for many years and advocated fiercely for the arts as a vital tool for growth - especially for children struggling with traditional academic subjects. She said: "Art gives less academic children the opportunity to gain confidence, build self-esteem, and truly shine.”
“I hope I have been an inspirational teacher, as the children’s best interests have always been genuinely at the heart of all I have done."
For Petra, the most rewarding aspect of her 28-year stint at Wybourn was seeing her students blossom into confident young adults."It has been an absolute privilege working with so many talented young people,"
She said."I have enjoyed working with the local community and watching the children grow, flourish, and achieve so much over the years. I want to thank everyone for their support, kindness, and trust."
Speaking about her retirement, Petra said she plans to spend her time promoting the book she has been working on for the last six years, which tells the story of how she navigated adolescence and young adulthood before retraining and becoming a teacher.
The book is called Every Dog Has Its Day. She explained:“Hopefully, it is an inspirational, engaging story of my resilience, determination and genuine love of meeting new people and engaging in new experiences. My main objective has been to tell my story in an authentic humorous way. After all laughter is a tonic.”
Petra will be promoting her book on Facebook in the near future and is currently busy organising a book launch.