Our team in Ghana
Mike Ofori
(Co-founder and Project Co-ordinator)
A born educationalist, Mike is the man with the original vision to provide free schooling to the children of Saltpond. He has many years' teaching experience, but now oversees all project management and site development and liaises with the Ghanaian Education Service (GES), private schools network and local council. He is so passionate about SEP and the project wouldn’t be able to run without his dedication and tireless approach.
Emmanuel Ofori
(Headteacher)
Emmanuel is Mike’s younger brother and a truly fantastic teacher. He has many years' experience in both state and private schools, and teaches our Primary Six class. He is also responsible for delivering all teacher training and appraisal.
Emmanuel is so dedicated to SEP that he can often be found on site after school and on Saturday mentoring students or providing extra classes for our graduates. He is the most fantastic role model for the students and they absolutely adore him.
The fabulous teachers at the SEP Happy Primary school
Richard Aseming (Class 3); Mary Owusu (KG assistant); Esther Acquah (KG1); Haruna Seidu (Class 2); Michael Affran (Class 5); Janet Sam (Class 1); Edith Kyei (KG2); Emmanuel Ofori (Headteacher and Class 6); Ernest Adoboah (Class 4)
Our team in the UK
Ashley Schouver
(Director & trustee)
Ashley is our director and project management specialist. As a legal and HR professional, she’s passionate about education and immersing herself in the happy world of SEP. She spent an initial 3 months in Saltpond, training the staff in project management.
Laura Percival
(Co-founder & trustee)
Laura was part of the co-founding team that helped to set up the project. She is a deputy headteacher, English teacher and Special Educational Needs director in Derbyshire, she is also a Teach First Ambassador and has an MA in Educational Leadership.
Tara Royle
(Chair of the board of trustees)
Tara is our Primary Education Specialist. She spent 7 months in Saltpond training our teachers, setting up our play-based KG classrooms and ICT suite, and helping to manage the project. Tara works as a primary school teacher in London.
Ian Burbidge
(Co-founder & trustee)
Ian is a co-founder and general champion of the project, and spends his days as a primary school teacher in Nottinghamshire.
Rachel Mann
(Co-founder & trustee)
Rachel is a co-founder and trustee, and an ex-teacher. From 2007 she worked alongside Laura and Ian in setting up the SEP to support Mike and Emmanuel’s passion for teaching and access to education.
Natalie Falconer
(Secretary & trustee)
Natalie is an HR whizz and went out with our director, Ashley, for several visits in 2015-17. She talks about the children of SEP everywhere she goes - and it’s helped her secure some great supporters and sponsorship for the project.