Karen Balmer

I graduated from Coleraine University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Psychology.  

In 2006 I graduated from The University of Leicester with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.  

I taught in a school in Leicester for 2 years before returning to Northern Ireland and have been teaching in Northern Ireland for 15 years now.  

I am a wife, and I am a mummy to 2 children. My son is 14 and my daughter is 10. My happiness and my soul purpose in life is my children and my family. I love them with all my heart. 

I am currently the Nurture Teacher in St. Joseph’s Primary School in Antrim which helps me combine my love of teaching and my interest in child psychology.  

I am passionate about ensuring the children in my class receive a full education, not only developing their Literacy and Numeracy skills through the learning intentions of the Northern Ireland Curriculum but also by developing their social and emotional skills. I want to help all children identify their areas of strength and help them grow into adults who can manage their emotions and believe in themselves to become the best, happiest and healthiest person they can be. 

I have always loved working with children. I had lots of time and patience for babies and toddlers even when I was only a child myself. My first nephew was born in 1995 and a couple of years later he was diagnosed with ASD and with this I became extremely interested in ASD. I wanted to find out how I could help other children with ASD.  

This led me to my degree in Social Psychology then into teaching.  

I always felt that working with children with ASD would be my calling, but I feel now that I am a Nurture teacher that this is where I belong.

I love the psychology behind Fresh Minds. I love that in a time when the world was closing down during Covid, Fresh Minds stepped up. They worked tirelessly to develop a program to help children who were suffering in a terrible time of isolation and loneliness. The program is based on facts and science. The program works to help children to develop confidence, raise self-esteem and encourage self-love but also it encourages relationships and friendship and talking. 

Every child I have worked with loves AMBER and so all children deserve to be given time to work on their thoughts, feelings, and emotions with the support of their teachers and AMBER. 

Very little. I love family time.

To make a difference in children’s lives. 

My family and to work in Nurture where I honestly feel is where I belong.