My friend and colleague Joanna Ross, who has died aged 70 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was a devoted teacher known for her energy, creativity and boundless dedication. Joanna championed inclusive education, placing accessibility and dignity at the heart of everything she did.
She spent much of her career at Richard Cloudesley school in Islington, north London, a special school serving children with complex needs, which she joined in 2004 and stayed until retirement in 2018. There, she left an enduring mark – particularly through her contributions to the design of the school’s new building in 2008, ensuring that students’ physical and cognitive needs were central to the plans.
