I just found myself a teacher, says Green Hills Academy’s Ludeki

Ronald Ludeki is an English language and Literature teacher for different grades at Greenhill Academy. He has vast experience teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) (commonly known as Cambridge), the main international courses offered by the Nyarutarama-based school. He took time off to talk to Education Times’s Grace Gatera. Excerpts below: Who is Ronald Ludeki?Ronald Ludeki is a 48 year old career teacher who has been teaching for over 26 years. Both my parent were teachers in Kakamega, Kenya. Unfortunately none of them is alive today. We were a vast family, 5 boys and 1 girl of which I am the acting first born, although biologically I am the second born. Our bigger brother passed away a long time ago. I am married to a beautiful lady and I have four children. Two of whom are at university now.Which schools did you attend?I went to St Joseph’s primary school in Nakuru for early Primary education, then Kisangula primary school in Kaka mega for the latter part. For my High school education I went to Alliance High School and later on to the Catholic University of Nairobi.Why Education?Teaching runs in my family. My parents were both teachers and they taught me that teaching was an admirable profession where you get to impact on thousands of young lives.Didn’t you ever want to become anything else?Trust me, I tried. In 1995, I worked with an NGO that was sensitizing the population on voter education. At that time I was working part-time but most of my work entailed desk work. I found it boring and monotonous. And I missed sharing ideas with young minds and getting thrilled by seeing someone excel. I didn’t choose teaching. It chose me.Where have you worked before?My experience spans for 26 years and three countries, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. I have taught in the IB system, the national curriculum and the IGCSE system (Cambridge). Some of the schools I have taught at include, Aga Khan schools in Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi and I was the pioneer vice principal at GreenHill Academy in 2006.What are the best and worst moments of your career?My best was the time I was walking down a street in Nairobi and a man across the street that was walking with two friends saw me and started yelling my name. He recklessly crossed and gave me a bear hug. It turns out that he was one of my former students. He was the director of Macmillan and he told his friends that he owed his position to me.Worst moments always happen when a child who was showing so much promise fails. Parents don’t see it, but it hurts us, as much as them when we see our efforts fail for various reasons.Is there anything that the public or your students do not know about you?Hardly. I am a very transparent fellow. When I like something I say it, when I do not, I also say it.What do you do in your leisure time?I no longer have any free time. But when on those rare occasions I find myself free, I read novels or watch a movie. Any Advice?Everyone should set reasonable goals for themselves. After that, the task lies in working towards achieving those goals.