Our Team

Joel Shaljean
Non-Executive Director - Education Lead - Mentor - Reading Mentor
Joel is a teacher with over 25 years’ experience working across mainstream Primary, Secondary and Special schools in London and Essex. He was the pastoral lead in his role as Deputy Head teacher at a Special School in Colchester for 6 years. He is an advanced trainer in behaviour management and now he is operational Lead with Essex Steps, training schools across Essex, on understanding and managing difficult behaviour. Previously, Joel was head of physical education and sport at a boys’ secondary comprehensive in inner city London. Upon his arrival in Essex in 2004 Joel worked successfully as a partnership development manager for a school sport partnership which involved supporting schools in delivering high quality P.E and sport until he took up his current position in 2010. Joel is passionate about helping children achieve and overcome barriers and challenges. Joel is married to Sonia and they have three sons, age 17, 19 and 22.
Joel works part-time for Lads Need Dads as a Research Development Manager. His role is to oversee the roll out of LND inspired research in the county of Essex which is exploring the teacher perception of the impact of fatherlessness and the lack of male role models on boys. Joel is a long-serving volunteer and mentor for LND and sits on the Directors Board with responsibility for Education and Training.