Former Head of Science with years of teaching experience, helping students excel in STEM.

I had the privilege of working alongside Ellen May Shortis when I served as Head of Science in Malaysia. From the start, it was clear that Ellen is not only a highly capable Chemistry teacher but also a genuine leader in the wider STEM field. She combines outstanding subject knowledge with the ability to inspire both students and colleagues.

Ellen brings over a decade of experience in STEM education, with proven impact on curriculum development, teacher training, and raising student outcomes. While we worked together, I saw first-hand how she could take complex Chemistry concepts and make them clear, engaging, and relevant to students of all levels. Her lessons were consistently high-quality—so much so that they were often highlighted as best practice.

Beyond the classroom, Ellen is a natural mentor and coach. She has guided colleagues across all science subjects, supported whole-school professional development, and helped teachers grow in confidence and capability. Her leadership is practical and results-driven: the teams she has supported have achieved record GCSE outcomes (67% 4+) and the best-ever BTEC Applied Science results (ALPS 2 in 2024). Even more impressively, 70% of her students received offers from Russell Group universities—double the national average.

Her strengths extend into human resource management and organisational leadership: from writing departmental policies, leading interviews, and conducting appraisals, to supporting staff through difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism. Ellen also champions equity, diversity, and inclusion, advocating strongly for women in STEM and ensuring students with special educational needs or teachers with physical limitations receive the support they need to thrive.

Ellen is also highly skilled in data-driven education, using tools like Power BI and Excel to analyse thousands of student data points and translate them into strategies that directly improve outcomes. This analytical approach, paired with her creativity and vision, makes her an exceptional asset to any school or tutoring platform.

Whether in the classroom, online, or in leadership, Ellen demonstrates the highest standards of professionalism, adaptability, and care. I wholeheartedly recommend her as a Chemistry tutor and STEM leader. Any student or institution fortunate enough to work with her will benefit enormously from her expertise, dedication, and inspiring approach.