Introducing our new Education Community Manager, Jodie

We are really excited to introduce you to Jodie who joined the Apps for Good team as our new Education Community Manager earlier this month. We thought we'd give her the chance to introduce herself.

What’s your role at Apps for Good?

I’m the Education Community Manager, working alongside Freddie (our Head of Education and Engagement) and Lamar (our Education Youth and Support Assistant Intern). I look after all of our fantastic schools and teachers, as well as investigating new opportunities to spread the word about our courses to schools around the UK. A big part of my job is connecting young people to industry experts through our Expert Feedback Tool, allowing them to gain ideas and support on all of their fantastic projects.

What were you doing before you started here?

I previously worked as a manager at Explore Learning, a Maths and English tuition company for school-aged children. Technology was a big part of their learning and I saw first-hand how using technology within education could facilitate huge learning developments for children of all ages and abilities. I managed all aspects of the business, including building relationships with local families and spreading the word about our offering. I was heavily involved in tracking childrens’ progress and sharing success stories with their parents, teachers and peers. One of my favourite aspects of the role was building relationships with schools in my local area of Glasgow and running workshops. Seeing a child move from uncertainty over a topic to a feeling of confidence within themself was priceless, and I was looking for a role which gave me that same rewarding feeling. Prior to this, I studied English Literature at University. One of my favourite Apps is BookBub which gives you reading recommendations based on all of your favourites and allows you to connect with famous authors’ top bookshelf choices! I love this combination of tech, books and connection being used for good, so I’m excited to see all of the fantastic App creations that our young people come up with.

What motivated you to join us?

One of the main things that impressed me about Apps for Good was their drive towards inclusivity. I was inspired to learn that 50% of the students who are involved in the courses are girls, as well as the focus on reaching schools in traditionally more disadvantaged areas. I have seen first-hand the benefit of using technology within education, and was excited to be more involved in the strategy to increase this throughout the UK. Something else that was a huge motivator was meeting the rest of the team throughout my interview process. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and inspiring, and I wanted to get involved and be a part of that!

What are you most looking forward to in your first few months?

We have some exciting new projects coming up which I’m looking forward to getting involved with. I’m eager to get to know as many of our fantastic teachers, students, schools and corporate partners as possible and can’t wait to start hosting events and engagement activities.