Part of the Etc.
From teaching sport, business, or even ice dancing, Andrew Panayi will be a familiar face to thousands of former Billingham students.
The teacher turned manager at SRC Bede Sixth Form has helped to inspire generations of students.
Now, after 23 years with the college, Andrew is retiring.
“I didn’t expect to be here for such a long time,” he said. “But Bede is definitely a special place. And, just like the students, it has helped my career to develop.”
Looking back he believes it was fate that brought him to Billingham.
Originally, a professional ice dance coach from London, he decided to make the move when a coaching job came up at the Billingham Forum.
He said: “I guess it’s not that often you hear of people moving from the bright lights of London to the bright lights of Billingham!”
“The plan was just to see how it went for a six months,” he said. But after meeting his wife, Elaine, Andrew chose to settle down in Billingham and 36 years later he is still here, having built his career and life on Teesside.
He says that the change from coaching ice dancing to the demands of the classroom was surprisingly a natural transition for him and was inspired by his father in-law, a former senior college lecturer.
He said: “There are key similarities between coaching and teaching, such as communication and helping students/athletes understand key concepts and applying these to a particular situation.”
Since joining Bede in 1996, Andrew has gone on to become a stalwart of the college. When it comes to sharing the virtues of lifelong learning, he has shown he is one to lead by example successfully completing an MBA along the way.
Moving from teaching into strategic and quality management, his time with SRC Bede draws to a close as the college’s deputy director supporting the new campus principal. He said: “I have certainly been on my own learner journey, holding a number of different management roles culminating with interim leadership of the sixth form.”
Describing his life like chapters in a book, he said: “I have seen a lot of change at the college which has moved on significantly. It now offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications designed to help learners reach their career aims.”
“I am now coming to the end of this particular chapter. For me the future is about leaving a legacy for the new younger members of staff coming through.
“I have been privileged to work with staff, past and present, who are not only highly focused and professional but also committed to helping learners get the best educational experience in the Tees Valley area.”
As for retirement, it seems that Andrew has no plans to dust off the ice boots just yet. “That was chapter 3,” he said with a smile.
“I have a very supportive wife, Elaine, and we have been happily married for 34 years. Now it’s about spending quality time together, so travelling to exotic locations is certainly on the bucket list along with helping my son, James, and daughter, Sarah, by practising my DIY skills in the respective new homes!”
As for SRC Bede, he said: “Bede has been a huge part of my life for such a long time. I will always think of it fondly and its original motto of being “caring, friendly and successful” remains to this day.”
The teacher turned manager at SRC Bede Sixth Form has helped to inspire generations of students.
Now, after 23 years with the college, Andrew is retiring.
“I didn’t expect to be here for such a long time,” he said. “But Bede is definitely a special place. And, just like the students, it has helped my career to develop.”
Looking back he believes it was fate that brought him to Billingham.
Originally, a professional ice dance coach from London, he decided to make the move when a coaching job came up at the Billingham Forum.
He said: “I guess it’s not that often you hear of people moving from the bright lights of London to the bright lights of Billingham!”
“The plan was just to see how it went for a six months,” he said. But after meeting his wife, Elaine, Andrew chose to settle down in Billingham and 36 years later he is still here, having built his career and life on Teesside.
He says that the change from coaching ice dancing to the demands of the classroom was surprisingly a natural transition for him and was inspired by his father in-law, a former senior college lecturer.
He said: “There are key similarities between coaching and teaching, such as communication and helping students/athletes understand key concepts and applying these to a particular situation.”
Since joining Bede in 1996, Andrew has gone on to become a stalwart of the college. When it comes to sharing the virtues of lifelong learning, he has shown he is one to lead by example successfully completing an MBA along the way.Moving from teaching into strategic and quality management, his time with SRC Bede draws to a close as the college’s deputy director supporting the new campus principal. He said: “I have certainly been on my own learner journey, holding a number of different management roles culminating with interim leadership of the sixth form.”
Describing his life like chapters in a book, he said: “I have seen a lot of change at the college which has moved on significantly. It now offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications designed to help learners reach their career aims.”
“I am now coming to the end of this particular chapter. For me the future is about leaving a legacy for the new younger members of staff coming through.
“I have been privileged to work with staff, past and present, who are not only highly focused and professional but also committed to helping learners get the best educational experience in the Tees Valley area.”
As for retirement, it seems that Andrew has no plans to dust off the ice boots just yet. “That was chapter 3,” he said with a smile.
“I have a very supportive wife, Elaine, and we have been happily married for 34 years. Now it’s about spending quality time together, so travelling to exotic locations is certainly on the bucket list along with helping my son, James, and daughter, Sarah, by practising my DIY skills in the respective new homes!”
As for SRC Bede, he said: “Bede has been a huge part of my life for such a long time. I will always think of it fondly and its original motto of being “caring, friendly and successful” remains to this day.”
