Meet the team: Part 2

Some more members of the Early Childhood team for you to meet…

John Parry, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood

I am a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and have worked at the Open University since 2010. I have written material for a range of modules for students studying at the OU for both the Early Childhood and Primary qualifications. Before moving into Higher Education, I was a practitioner and teacher who had worked with young children and their families for over 25 years, for much of this time within Portage. The focus of my publications and research has been the inclusion of young children in their local pre-school settings and the early friendships between disabled children and their peers. My most recent work has been with Professor Jonathon Rix developing ‘In the Picture’, an approach to observing young children at play and engaging with their experiences.

 Thanks John. Can you tell us….

• The last book you read: ‘Machines Like Me’ Ian McEwan.
• Your favourite joke: Anything that Stewart Lee says.
• Your ideal holiday destination: Ashton Gate.
• What you do in your spare time: Record Collecting, record playing, record cleaning, record organising, record reviewing, record buying…basically anything involving records.

 Mrs Eleonora Teszenyi, Lecturer in Early Childhood

I joined The Open University in September 2019 from the University of Northampton where I taught on both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees including the Masters programme in Early Years. Before entering Higher Education, I had worked in the early years sector for 19 years as an Early Years practitioner, early years teacher, Local Authority advisor and children centre teacher in one of the most disadvantaged areas of Leicestershire. I completed my Masters degree in Early Years, Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education and Early Years Professional Status (now Early Years Teacher Status) at The University of Northampton and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Currently, I am studying towards my PhD.

Thanks Eleonora. Can you tell us….

• The last book you read: I always have at least two books on my bedside cabinet (often more), one of which is fiction. A novel I long to read to switch my brain off at the end of the day. But I must admit, at the write-up stage in my PhD, this feels rather like a luxury so often I pour over research books in preparation for the following day’s writing. Before you condemn me to be rather ‘sad’, let me confess to reading an easy-going romantic novel during my summer leave. Nothing high-brow or particularly sophisticated (without wanting to offend the author), just ‘nice’.  It is by Lisa Jewell and the title is ‘Before I Met You’. Two parallel stories from the 1920s and 1990s – two generations apart, the stories of a grandmother and her granddaughter intertwined.
• Your ideal holiday destination: I would very much like to hike on the Inca Trail in Peru, starting from Chillca, up to the lost city of Machu Picchu. I am fascinated by ancient civilisations, although I cannot claim to know too much about them. It is more like an enthusiastic interest of a novice. Once I am in that part of the world, I’d like to travel around in South-America.
• What you do in your spare time: Anything that is outdoors. Our family holidays are always about adventure and I love it all: sea kayaking, canoeing on white water, hiking, rock climbing, caving or skiing, they are all fun. I must admit, I am not too keen on biking, particularly not mountain biking.  I also love pottering in the garden, growing our food on our allotment, cooking it all in a cauldron on open fire… you get the picture. Wind in my hair, sun on my face, soaked by rain… I don’t mind but love the snow the most!

Dr Joanne Josephidou, Lecturer in Early Childhood

I joined the Open University in September 2019 but before this, I was a primary school teacher for many years before entering Higher Education, as a teaching fellow, in 2009. I taught on Initial Teacher Education programmes at the University of Cumbria before joining the Early Childhood Studies team at Canterbury Christ Church in September 2014.  I have taught on a variety of modules and have a particular interest in supporting students to develop early research skills. My PhD focused on appropriate pedagogies with young children and how practitioner gender may impact on these.  Currently, I am working collaboratively on a piece of research which focuses on babies’ and toddlers’ opportunities to engage with the outdoor environment and nature.

Thanks Jo. Now tell us…

• The last book you read: Since someone kindly bought me a Kindle last Christmas, I have rediscovered a love of reading fiction; I think I lost that when I was reading continually for my PhD. I enjoy reading book reviews of the latest releases and then choosing one. Sometimes I feel like a child in a sweet shop! I recently enjoyed Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld. It is a fictional account of Hillary Clinton’s life, written as if she hadn’t married Bill.
• Your ideal holiday destination: France or France or France – I just love it!
• What you do in your spare time: I love spending time with my family; I have three sons who make me laugh, wind me up and help me to see the world in a different way.

Dr Lucy Rodriguez-Leon

My research focuses on early childhood literacy. I am a member of the UK Literacy Association and co-convener of the Early Years Special Interest Group, promoting broad and balanced approaches to early literacy education. My recent research includes a project to evaluate the impact of an OU online course ‘Teaching Early Reading in Africa’ with Early Childhood practitioners in South Africa. I also work on the OU’s Reading for Pleasure Project, which develops research informed pedagogy and practice across the UK and internationally. My PhD research focused on young children’s encounters with literacy in their play and everyday lives, and how these experiences shape children’s understandings of themselves as readers and writers.

Here are my three fun facts!

• In my time off, I like to visit Northumberland to walk in the Cheviot hills and explore the ruins of Roman forts. It can be rather wet and windy, but the wilderness and spectacular views are beyond compare.
• During the 2020 lockdown, I discovered a love of gardening and now appreciate the phrase, ‘enjoying the garden’! However, I am a complete novice and I’m having to learn about what to plant and prune at different times of year!
• Here’s my all-time favourite joke!

Q – Why do scuba divers fall out the boat backwards??

A – Well, if they fell forwards… they would still be in the boat!

Lucy – that’s terrible!

Thanks all for telling us a little about yourselves. Don’t forget to join us next week for the final part of ‘Meet the team’!