06 Sep, 2022
My name is Ryan Cartwright. I am an ex-professional cricketer/athlete, physical education teacher and sports coach with a specialisation in cricket. I am currently doing a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education), and I will be a fully qualified Life Orientation teacher in the Senior and FET (Further Education and Training) phase in December 2022.
I am passionate about people, sports, education and developing young leaders for our future. The impact my teachers and coaches had on my life and their influence has had a profound effect on how I have lived my life, how I deal with people and the relationships that I’ve built over my 30 years.
There is a special link between sports and education. There is so much learning and opportunity for growth in the sports field and that is something that consistently motivates me in making a positive impact on the learners that I am working with. I believe in looking after the needs of the individual that leaves a major impact on that child’s life is the priority. There is so much power we hold in education and that’s why I feel that it’s even more reason to use that power with responsibility. I believe that good people make good teachers and those good teachers are people that put others first.
I’d like to pursue teaching Physical Education and Life Orientation. My personal goals and aspirations include completing my PGCE this year (2022) and then working within a school with a vision, ambition and drive that equals or supersedes my own. I am a student of life and a life-long learner. I love a challenge and improving myself consistently, this is a huge part of my aspirations and therefore my personal development is crucial in continually progressing myself for me to be able to successfully provide a high-quality work ethic and service to those I work with and teach.
My experience in education has allowed me to build children up, creating an environment where individuals can express themselves, grow, and learn effectively. This was my goal all along. I believe strongly in effective communication and teaching children how to improve on their communication skills. Working within a school will allow me to make an impact on a personal level. It will also allow me to lead by example and be a positive role model in a child’s life. Sport has always been my platform; therefore, coaching has been at the forefront of my working relationships and connections with the people that I have worked with. I have over 10 years of sports coaching experience.
I would consider myself open-minded, honest, caring, and intuitive. I am a people person and passionate about growth and development. Teaching speaks to my interpersonal qualities, besides creating an environment for children to learn within their lives. I’d like to think that my classroom is not bound by its four walls or the boundaries of the field, but rather making the world their classroom, learning in as many facets of their lives. This leads to good human beings, not just students, being present in a world that is forever changing, and finding their voice and power to change the world in their vision.
The passion for what I do is seen by those around me, creating an environment that always leads to an unquenchable thirst for growth. I want to help build foundations for children to use and flourish from. Everyone has the potential to be great, they just need some help. I like to view it as a fire that I have within that will spread to all the children I teach and coach. My purpose has always been to change the world, I guess that world is not my generation's world but the generations to come.
I am currently employed at a private school in White River, South Africa, called Uplands. I work with children from the ages of 5 to 18. I am a physical education teacher, and sports coach, with a specialised focus on cricket. I have the role of Head of Cricket at Uplands Preparatory School (ages 5 to 13) and manage the cricket operations within the Preparatory School. I also coach cricket at the College (ages 14 to 18) and have been completing my teaching practice there too. I teach Life Orientation (PHSE, Life Skills).
I am looking at potentially immigrating to another country, particularly Europe or the United Kingdom, but am also open to other options abroad.
Head of Cricket, Cricket Specialist, Sports Coach, PE Teacher
South Africa