Book Nook - Because of You, This is Me

In schools across the country, teachers are being pushed to their limits. They are tasked with not only delivering lessons but also providing comfort, protection, and support. For children growing up in poverty, facing instability at home, or suffering the effects of trauma, schools frequently serve as the final safeguard. Teachers are often the first to recognise when something is amiss and can make a profound difference in the lives of vulnerable students through their compassion and intervention.

A previous contestant on the UK’s The Apprentice, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, is a multi-award-winning international speaker and self-described ‘resilience ninja’ whose enthusiasm is both infectious and hugely motivating. Growing up in poverty and neglected and abused by her parents, Jaz was destined to become a statistic. Her story was changed by five teachers who made a point of putting human connection first, despite the challenges of the education system.

Because of these five teachers, Jaz went on to become a teacher, writer and award-winning international speaker who engages educators and galvanises them into embracing the difference that they can make when they, too, put being a human first. Through celebration and provocation, she uses the transformative power of her own story to inspire the everyday heroes of education and is responsible for empowering millions of teachers with her record-breaking TED talk.

In her upcoming book, Because of You, This is Me, Jaz brings her signature blend of insight, inspiration and laughter to the page to celebrate the vital and transformative impact teachers have on the children in their care. It’s easy to feel disillusioned in an exhausting education system, but Jaz’s celebration of teachers is a tangible reminder that their small actions have a profound impact on the students in their care.

In this book, Jaz shares her story – often harrowing but always uplifting – to show how the everyday heroes in our schools can transform the lives of the children who need their help the most.

Jaz Ampaw-Farr is a writer and an international speaker, and previously worked as a teacher, literacy advisor and stand-up comedian. Named "The British Oprah" and three-time winner of Speaker of the Year, Jaz's raw honesty and humour have already inspired millions through her viral TED talk and headline keynotes for organisations from Google to Gucci. After cowriting and presenting the BBC spelling show, Hard Spell Abbey, Jaz also appeared as a candidate on The Apprentice.