We are excited to welcome Stephen Marr as the new Head of Primary & Nursery at Avenor. With a diverse background in education and a deep passion for nurturing young minds, Stephen brings a wealth of experience from his 18-year career across the globe. From his early days as a Secondary School Mathematics teacher in the UK to leading schools in Oman and Romania, Stephen has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence in education. In this interview, we get to know more about Stephen’s journey, his educational philosophy, and his vision for the Avenor community.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What or who inspired you to pursue a career in education?
I am Stephen Marr, the new Head of Primary & Nursery at Avenor. I have been living in Bucharest for ten years with my wife Antonia and three-year-old son Alexander; nine of those in the Greenfields compound.
I have worked in education now for eighteen years. After studying Accountancy and Finance at Aberdeen university, I embarked on a career in finance for Citibank, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. However, the financial sector was not the correct fit for me. I was fortunate to find my true calling in 2006, initially as a Secondary School Mathematics teacher, before moving into the Primary sector. Education became a vocation for me right from the start and I have endeavored to inspire all the students in my care since that day.
My early teaching days were spent in Nottinghamshire, England, where I learnt what outstanding learning and teaching was. I then moved into the international sector spending time in Oman, Muscat. There I was the Head of my Key Stage and our results placed us in the top 5% of international school. The last nine years I was Principal of another Bucharest school, growing it from a small Primary into an outstanding rated all-through school.
As a BSO inspector, you have certainly visited many schools, and as a professional, you have worked in various schools around the world. In your opinion, what are the traits that make a school the best fit for its community?
I have been a school inspector since 2022, and have been fortunate to observe learning and processes in various countries. I consider myself to be a life-long learner and in addition to assessing and advising schools, I am always looking to learn something from each school that I am in.
The best schools understand their communities and how their students learn best in their contexts. There are of course some consistencies across all schools; students learn best when the teaching community has high expectations, is consistent in its practice, and ensures that the curriculum is relevant and fun.
What is the most interesting fact you learned about Avenor so far?
The name “AVENOR’ is very interesting; of course, making up the school values of Adventure, Vocation, Excellence, Nature, Opportunity, Relationships. If all these ingredients are in place, then we will ensure that students leave Avenor as well-rounded, creative, independent, and ready to succeed in the 21st century.
What do you hope to find at Avenor?
I hope to find a wonderful community full of enthusiastic and kind children that are curious, creative, and full of energy for learning. I also hope to find passionate and caring teachers, and parents that are truly our partners. A family orientated environment with high academic standards and pastoral care. A school that provides a balance between academic rigor and enjoyment, and that is committed to producing future leaders and international citizens.
