Jo Harris
Cert Ed, 1976
PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT PEDAGOGY, LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
“At Dartford I learnt that, with effort and intent, I was capable of achieving much more than I imagined. My experiences made me realise that patience, persistence and perseverance nearly always pay off. I also learnt much from others from different backgrounds and ways of life which helped me become an open-minded, tolerant and altogether better person.”
An alumna of our predecessor institution, Dartford College of Physical Education, Jo Harris is now Professor of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy at Loughborough University. “I enjoy being involved in developing the next generation of teachers, ensuring that they are competent, confident and caring. It is very satisfying to observe talented individuals growing into great teachers, to the benefit of many young people. The University provides the platform to positively influence physical education in schools in the UK and around the world which gives me great pleasure”.
Jo’s commitment to physical education teaching began at Dartford, where she trained as a PE and biology teacher. She describes qualifying as “one of my proudest achievements.” Most of Jo’s fondest memories of Dartford, however, “are nearly all associated with socialising with my peers. I fondly recall a group of us touring Europe using inter-rail cards, plus being thrown into the swimming pool, fully dressed, on my 21st birthday!” During her time at Dartford, Jo was also scorer for the ladies’ cricket team, an experience she felt particularly astonishing as “prior to college, I had no knowledge or experience of the game and famously embarrassed myself by asking ‘How do you know which team is which if they’re all wearing the same colour?’!”
Since completing her studies in 1976, Jo has kept in touch with a number of her cohort, including friends Sue, Karen and Flick. “Since qualifying to be PE teachers, we have met nearly every year for over 40 years. In the year we were all 60, we had a special reunion in Barcelona and, during the last few years, we have been meeting up in the Derbyshire Dales, with even more of our year group. It is great when we get together and it always feels as though it was only yesterday when we last met.”
Jo was also recently elected as President of the Bergman Österberg Union (BOU). The BOU, which was established in 1916, exists to champion the legacy of Martina Bergman Österberg, the founder of Dartford College; to share, support and promote the social and educational values she espoused; and to promote and ensure the protection and development of the Österberg Collection. “This role helps me to remember and ‘give back’ to those who started me on my career, many years ago.”
And for those who are about to embark on their career, Jo encourages graduates to “be committed and courageous, stick to your principles and be true to yourself; do what you do well and justify what you do; give respect to gain respect; and always remember your roots and who helped you to succeed at every stage of your life and career.”
Jo Harris
Cert Ed, 1976
PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT PEDAGOGY, LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
“At Dartford I learnt that, with effort and intent, I was capable of achieving much more than I imagined. My experiences made me realise that patience, persistence and perseverance nearly always pay off. I also learnt much from others from different backgrounds and ways of life which helped me become an open-minded, tolerant and altogether better person.”
An alumna of our predecessor institution, Dartford College of Physical Education, Jo Harris is now Professor of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy at Loughborough University. “I enjoy being involved in developing the next generation of teachers, ensuring that they are competent, confident and caring. It is very satisfying to observe talented individuals growing into great teachers, to the benefit of many young people. The University provides the platform to positively influence physical education in schools in the UK and around the world which gives me great pleasure”.
Jo’s commitment to physical education teaching began at Dartford, where she trained as a PE and biology teacher. She describes qualifying as “one of my proudest achievements.” Most of Jo’s fondest memories of Dartford, however, “are nearly all associated with socialising with my peers. I fondly recall a group of us touring Europe using inter-rail cards, plus being thrown into the swimming pool, fully dressed, on my 21st birthday!” During her time at Dartford, Jo was also scorer for the ladies’ cricket team, an experience she felt particularly astonishing as “prior to college, I had no knowledge or experience of the game and famously embarrassed myself by asking ‘How do you know which team is which if they’re all wearing the same colour?’!”
Since completing her studies in 1976, Jo has kept in touch with a number of her cohort, including friends Sue, Karen and Flick. “Since qualifying to be PE teachers, we have met nearly every year for over 40 years. In the year we were all 60, we had a special reunion in Barcelona and, during the last few years, we have been meeting up in the Derbyshire Dales, with even more of our year group. It is great when we get together and it always feels as though it was only yesterday when we last met.”
Jo was also recently elected as President of the Bergman Österberg Union (BOU). The BOU, which was established in 1916, exists to champion the legacy of Martina Bergman Österberg, the founder of Dartford College; to share, support and promote the social and educational values she espoused; and to promote and ensure the protection and development of the Österberg Collection. “This role helps me to remember and ‘give back’ to those who started me on my career, many years ago.”
And for those who are about to embark on their career, Jo encourages graduates to “be committed and courageous, stick to your principles and be true to yourself; do what you do well and justify what you do; give respect to gain respect; and always remember your roots and who helped you to succeed at every stage of your life and career.”
