This time around we sat down with Godsway Dzoboku from ̨��swag Academy Portland. Godsway has a fantastic ̨��swag story and was recently appointed Associate Principal at ̨��swag Academy Portland, after starting at the academy as an NQT in 2006, prior to it becoming part of the ̨��swag Family.

[̨��swag.com] Hi Godsway, thanks for meeting with us and congratulations! Please can you introduce yourself to the readers?

GD: “It’s a thrill to be asked to take part, and thank you. I am Godsway Dzoboku, Associate Principal at ̨��swag Academy Portland.”

And what will it be today, coffee or tea?

“It’s always tea for me, please. Just with milk and no sugar.”

A good choice! So you joined ̨��swag Academy Portland in 2006, before it joined the ̨��swag Family in 2011. What were your initial thoughts as an NQT?

“My initial thought when I started as an NQT was to support all students, irrespective of their background to achieve their full potential. This was born out of my own guiding principle that ‘I am powerful beyond measure’. 

“This principle was inspired by the ‘Our deepest fear’ quote by Marianne Williamson, and the life story of the late Dr Kofi Annan, a man born in a village in Ghana who overcame several challenges to become the Secretary general of the UN and a Nobel Prize winner.”

A very powerful principle to follow. What do you think has been the biggest change since the academy joined the ̨��swag Family?

“The biggest change has been the rise in the aspiration of students in Worksop. When I began my teaching career in 2006, aspirations were very low. However, since 2011, we have more students excelling in their academics and in the community. 

“We also have more students going to universities and colleges than ever before. I believe this is contributing to the transformation of the town.”

What a fantastic transformation you’ve seen on your ̨��swag journey. What would you say you’ve found most satisfying so far on your ̨��swag journey?

“My satisfaction comes from the number of students who continue to excel every year in our academies. Not only are they excelling academically, they are also becoming role models in the community.”

Would you say students excelling is your favourite thing about working at ̨��swag Academy Portland?

“To an extent, yes. One of my favourite memories was results day in 2013; one of my students who felt that she couldn’t succeed in anything in life, because sadly people had told her that, achieved a grade C in Maths. 

“She wept uncontrollably for several minutes and most people did not understand but I knew why. I encouraged her to work hard and made her believe that hard work pays off. 

“She started Y11 with a grade F in Maths, but she did all her homework, asked for more work regularly, and stayed behind after school almost every single day to get extra help. 

“In the final mock before the GCSE exams, she scraped a grade D but she did not give up. 

“For me, it remains one of my favourite moments in the profession, because she proved her family and friends wrong and it will serve as an inspiration to others and her life chances were really enhanced because of that achievement.”

What an incredible achievement. That must have been a very emotional results day.

So, we have to ask, following your recent appointment as Associate Principal of ̨��swag Academy Portland, what advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a leadership career?

“I will always say, leadership is not the title you are given, the post you hold or a race to see who wins, but an opportunity to serve. 

“When you serve; you motivate, inspire and build others up so that you can all rise together. 

“In serving, the collective achievement and moral purpose, is always greater than your individual achievement. I also believe that in leadership we need to let our light shine, as Marianne Williamson said, ‘As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.’’”  

And finally, our traditional final question; Which three people, dead or alive, would you invite for a dinner party?

“I have given this a lot of thought and the first would be the late Dr Kofi Annan as his life journey has been and continues to be an inspiration for me.

“The second would be the late Nelson Mandela. His ability to forgive, remain calm in difficult times, make the most of challenges and inspire generations is exemplary.

“The third would be Sylvester Stallone. Rambo or Rocky, take your pick! This is the guy who overcame paralysis from birth to become a global star and an inspiration. His movies are always electric and I loved a quote I found from him which read ‘I tend to think of action movies as exuberant morality plays in which good triumphs over evil.’”