The education community is mourning the loss of Joanna Ross, a revered special educational needs teacher known for her boundless energy and dedication, who has died at the age of 70 after living with Alzheimer's disease.
A Life Dedicated to Inclusive Education
Joanna Ross spent the majority of her impactful career at Richard Cloudesley School in Islington, north London. She joined the special school, which serves children with complex needs, in 2004 and remained there until her retirement in 2018. Her influence was profound and lasting, particularly in her key role contributing to the design of the school's new building in 2008. She was instrumental in ensuring the plans placed students' physical and cognitive accessibility needs at their very heart.
Her approach in the classroom was defined by joy and an unwavering belief in possibility. Joanna had a unique talent for transforming challenges into opportunities, whether directing an ambitious acrobatic pyramid for a school production or guiding her pupils through essential life lessons with deep compassion. She was a powerful advocate not just for the children, but for their families and her colleagues, working tirelessly to ensure every child had the tools and opportunity to thrive.
Recognition and Humble Service
In 2015, her exceptional work was recognised nationally when she was honoured as the special needs/early years teacher of the year in the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards. Characteristically, her humility shone through; Joanna never sought personal acclaim, focusing solely on making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she taught.
Born in Bristol, Joanna was the fourth daughter of Barbara and the Reverend John Beall. After a childhood in Lancashire and education at Accrington High School, she embarked on adventures abroad, working as an au pair in Spain and later as a bilingual secretary in Paris and London.
A Legacy of Kindness and Creativity
She returned to the UK to study linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas), graduating in 1984, before completing a PGCE in early years education at the London Institute of Education in 1988. Her teaching career in north London began in primary schools, with a long tenure at Sebright Primary from 1991 to 2004, before her pivotal move to Richard Cloudesley.
In the early 1990s, she met Ed Ross, an American maritime lawyer based in London. The couple married in Las Vegas and shared many happy years together until his death in 2019. In the difficult years following, during the pandemic, Joanna began to experience the early stages of Alzheimer's. She entered full-time care in 2022.
Joanna Ross is remembered as a rebel for all the right reasons—a woman of immense kindness, creativity, and steadfast dedication whose work empowered and inspired countless children, families, and fellow educators. She is survived by her two sisters, Barbara and Holly, two nieces, Naomi and Amy, and a nephew, David.
