Stella Emberson

Stella Emberson

Stella Emberson began secondary school teaching in Tottenham, London in 1965 after completing the new three year Teachers’ Certificate. At that time many teachers had only been emergency trained after the war or had completed the two year certificate.

After completing the first year of a Geology degree, and in her fifth year of teaching, Stella became the resident teacher at a rural centre belonging to the London Education Authority. Students came and lived at the centre for up to two weeks to learn about ecology and soil studies, farm studies, orienteering and hiking, Roman history and country life in general. She returned to London 13 months later and worked in a boys’ Comprehensive School in Clapham teaching science.

After a six-month across continents journey she arrived in Australia in 1972 and after two months cleaning and waitressing in Kings Cross she came to South Australia and taught general science at Immanuel College, Novar Gardens. Stella then spent three years teaching science and outdoor studies at two Boys technical College in Port Moresby and Rabaul in New Britain, PNG. On her return to Adelaide she taught science and PE at St. Mary’s College, West Terrace and became a member of ACHPER. However in 1979 she was offered a position as a PE and Science teacher in the New Arrivals Program. She completed a Graduate Diploma in TESOL in 1983 and a few years later completed a BA in Aboriginal Studies.

Stella has taught at schools only in the Western Suburbs (Thebarton, Woodville, Croydon, The Parks). She taught science to year 11, ESL yr 8 to 12 and for 11 years, stage 2 Aboriginal Studies.

In 1996 Stella became president of ESLTA and was instrumental in bringing together ESLTA and SATESOL to form ESL Educators. Stella has continued to be on ESL E management committee and has a keen interest in teacher professional learning, Teacher Standards and functional grammar. She has been a tutor to DECS Professional Learning courses for over 20 years and has run hundreds of workshops. She is currently a tutor for TESMC and How Language Works.

Stella Emberson is an ESL Consultant for the Northern Adelaide Region based at Elizabeth. She also has responsibility for ESL support and PD in the Far North, Mid North and Yorke Peninsula and the Barossa Valley. She promises to retire at the end of 2012.