Ems Melland, Deputy Principal

Ems grew up in Botswana, Poland and the U.K. before moving to the Cayman Islands with her husband, Lewis, in 2012. Ems’ passion has always been music and she studied at the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London before gaining a B.A. Hons in Music and Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield.

Ems always knew she wanted to go into teaching, but first worked as a Youth Worker in Derby where she had the opportunity to go into primary and secondary schools around the city. Ems valued this time to truly build relationships with the young people with whom she worked, and the importance of fostering these relationships stayed with her when she went into teaching.

Ems did her teacher training through the Graduate Teacher Training Programme at Beauchamp College, Leicester, becoming a High School Music teacher. In her move to the Cayman Islands, Ems found her love for the Primary School age group, having the privilege of working with students from the very start of their school journey to their transition to High School. Having the opportunity to engage with the students year on year was the motivation for Ems to keep building relationships and learning from the students for them to reach their full potential.

Ems enjoys working with the full breadth of age group that education covers, from running music and movement sessions in pre-schools, to previously directing the Cayman Youth Choir and assisting with the UCCI choir. Music education, particularly the importance of singing, has always been a passion of Ems and she enjoys letting the students shine in the many productions and concerts she has directed over the years.  

Outside of school, Ems values family time with her husband and two children who motivate her every day. She enjoys running, swimming and being outdoors, celebrating the very best of Cayman’s natural surroundings.