Meet the team

Mr Stephen Usher

Headteacher, Year 6 Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mr Usher began his teaching career over 30 years ago at Bangor University, earning his Bachelor of Education degree. He has since taught in Catholic primary schools across Stockport and Manchester, gaining extensive experience and insight into building a nurturing school community.

With over a decade in senior leadership, he joined Stella Maris School in September 2024. Passionate about helping every pupil reach their potential, he champions learning beyond the classroom through educational visits and hands-on experiences.

He sees teaching as both a privilege and the best job in the world. Outside school, he enjoys time with his wife and young family, DIY projects, golf, 5k Parkruns, and binge-watching crime dramas.

Mr Ken Brown

KS2 Teacher

Mr Ken Brown teaches Years 4 and 5 in the mornings and the whole of Key Stage 2 in the afternoons. With over 30 years of experience, he began his teaching career in Moldova, where he taught English to children and adults, before returning to the UK to teach in Essex and later in his hometown of Manchester.

For the past ten years, he has been proud to teach at Stella Maris School. Passionate about psychology and human behaviour, Mr Brown believes that with the right guidance and determination, every child can achieve their potential. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, keeping fit, and spending time with friends at his local gym.

Mrs Sarah Jones

Pre-Prep Leader and Teacher

Mrs Jones has over twenty years of teaching experience in primary education, she brings a deep commitment to nurturing curiosity and confidence in young learners. She holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, a PGCE, and is a qualified Forest School Leader. Her teaching career has spanned the full primary age range from 3 to 11, with a particular focus on EYFS and Key Stage 1.

Her specialist subjects are early reading, phonics and art. She is dedicated to creating learning experiences that help children develop strong foundations while discovering their own creative spark. She has been a member of the Stella Maris community for fifteen years.

Outside the classroom, she can often be found tending to her garden, running with her youngest daughter, horse riding with her eldest daughter, painting or drawing, or attempting to keep up with her spirited dog on long walks alongside her husband.

Mrs Kim Ashworth

Year 1 and 2 Teacher

Mrs Ashworth is our Year 1-2 teacher. She is a Geology Graduate and worked in Information Technology for 15 Years before completing a PGCE. She has over 10 years of teaching experience. While she worked in IT, she spent two years living in North America and worked in Australia, Italy, Canada, Denmark and Singapore! This is how she built up her love of Geography, as she believes the best way to learn Geography is through your feet! She has a busy family life with two children; her son works in Cambridge for a company who develop drones and sonars and her daughter is at Durham University studying Theology. In her spare time Mrs Ashworth loves to cook and loves her garden and sewing. She has been teaching at Stella Maris since January 2020.

Mme Tania Moinian

French Teacher

Madame Moinian is our French teacher. She is a French and International Business Graduate and an ex-secondary school teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. She spent a year living in beautiful Bordeaux which is where her love for all things French started. She teaches French in primary schools in the Greater Manchester area as well as teaching private French GCSE students online and adult group classes in the evenings. She has a busy family life with two teenage boys but loves teaching children and sharing her passion for languages. She enjoys regular trips to France which she says is her favourite country in the world! She has been teaching French at Stella Maris since January 2024.

Mrs Kazimeira Herok

Teaching Assistant and After School Club Facilitator

Mrs Herok is a qualified teacher with over 30 years teaching experience. She moved to England from Poland in 2007 and continues to teach in the UK. Mrs Herok says there is nothing more satisfying than seeing children progress with their learning in Stella Maris’ happy, family-like environment. She is a proud mum of three children and a happy grandma of one little boy. In her spare time, Mrs Herok enjoys spending time with her family hiking, cycling, kayaking and discovering places across the UK on her many travels.

Mr Brendan Whyte

Specialist PE Teacher

Mr Whyte has worked for Stockport County for over 5 years, working across the trust in various departments, including schools, social wellbeing, pan disability and health and fitness. Over the years, Mr Whyte has worked in numerous gyms as an instructor and as a personal trainer.

He has represented his county at football and cricket, with a background in high school lacrosse, rugby and cross country running.

Beyond his busy working environment, he enjoys playing squash and tennis, going for walks with his family and watching sports.

Mrs Liz Taylor

Music Teacher

Mrs Taylor brings a wealth of experience to the music lessons at Stella Maris from her time as a professional singer, as well as her many years as Musical Director of the award-winning Do Your Thing (DYT) community choir and critically acclaimed DYT Kids and Youth choirs.

Her passion for singing and her love of music ensures that pupils experience fun music lessons where they can explore composition, playing different instruments and develop their performance skills.

Every year, the children at Stella Maris get to experience performing at the school Christmas concert and the Summer show. This is a highlight of the year and something the children really look forward to.

Ms Samantha Mesagno

Drama Teacher and LAMDA Coach

Samantha, our Drama, Speech, and LAMDA teacher, holds an MA in Voice (Spoken) Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has extensive experience as a voice and dialogue coach for TV, film, and theatre, and has taught at institutions including LIPA, MMU, and Rose Bruford, as well as running workshops in schools across the North West.

Passionate about the spoken word, Samantha helps students bring text and poetry to life, develop clear communication, and gain confidence in expressing themselves. She joined Stella Maris in September 2025, teaching drama to our Key Stage 2 students.

Mrs Lorraine Coen

PA to the Headteacher and Office Manager

Mrs Coen began her career in Trade Services at the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. After 17 years, she took time out to raise her three children and later transitioned into education, serving for over 14 years as PA to the High Master at Manchester Grammar School.

A long-time resident of the Heatons for more than 35 years, Mrs Coen now serves as PA to the Headteacher and Office Manager at Stella Maris School. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, Zumba, dancing, baking, and recently spending time with her first grandchild.

Mrs Lindsey Baldwin

Arts and Crafts Teacher

Lindsey Baldwin is an artist and art educator based in Stockport. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Design in 2004 and has been passionate about creativity her whole life.
Born in Gosforth in the Lake District, Lindsey draws inspiration from the forests, wildlife, and natural landscapes she grew up around.

After moving to Stockport in 2005, she built her career as both an artist and teacher. She now runs art classes and creative events for all ages, enjoying every opportunity to inspire children and adults and help them reach their true creative potential. Lindsey often finds new ideas on countryside walks with her dog, Ziggy, which spark her latest projects.

Ms Debbie Curley

Teaching Assistant and ASC Facilitator

Ms Curley has been with Stella Maris for over 8 years. With a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification, she began helping out on lunchtime duty in the playground. With her proven experience, this quickly expanded to helping with after school care and the morning club. Alongside the above, Ms Curley now provides additional support in our classrooms. She says it has been a particular joy to work with Mrs Jones in Forest School, especially given her past involvement with the Scouts.

Outside of school life, Ms Curley spends time with her two adult children and she enjoys keeping fit at the gym. She loves travelling the Mediterranean, her favourite place of all being Ibiza.

Mr Greg Bowie

Peripatetic Music Teacher

With over 19 years of teaching experience and 22 years of playing music, Mr. Bowie focuses on creating student-led lessons that are shaped by each pupil’s individual interests and goals. Whether working with beginners or advanced learners, lessons are tailored to be engaging, effective, and inspiring.

Having taught in both primary and secondary schools, he fosters a supportive environment where students can build strong musical foundations while exploring their creative paths. Whether they’re working on technique, improvisation, or preparing for exams, his adaptable approach ensures each student’s musical development stays fun and motivating.

In addition to one-on-one lessons, Mr. Bowie leads group rock band workshops, helping students develop their performance skills through school and community performances. He is also an active member of a rock and pop covers band, performing at weddings, parties, and corporate events, which adds to his extensive experience as a performer.