My name is Christian Núñez Fuentes. I am 45 years old. I live in Bedford, but I am originally from Peru. My job title is Lecturer in Computing and I work at Bedford College teaching further education learners. We are a family of 5: my wife Lucie Núñez (41), and my daughters Niky (15), Naty (10) and Kaity (7).
Alongside my work as a further education teacher, I am a Managing Director of CNF IT Solutions & Services, which brings IT services to small and medium business and individuals.
I work four days a week as a further education teacher and dedicate Fridays to my own business. I really enjoy being a dual professional and continuing my career in the sector while also teaching.
As a further education teacher, I am responsible for the development and delivery of lesson plans, as well as helping the wider team with some administrative tasks. I also run a club for all levels where students can learn about programming and web design and development.
I do my best to use different methods to approach and explain each lesson in a very visual and practical way. I try not to be repetitive in my delivery as it could get boring for the students – and myself!
One of the best ways of keeping learners engaged is by sharing my own industry experience and skills. I had been working in IT for 13 years before launching my own business, so I have some experience of most roles, from a technician to a supervisor.
This enables me to make the work relatable – and to advise my students on what exactly they might want to do within the sector. Students are always interested in hearing real stories of the job as it gives them insights on what they can expect themselves.
What I love the most is that both teaching in further education and my industry role are in IT & Computing, which I am really passionate about. What’s more, there’s so much variety in each role. Every day brings a different scenario where plans need to be adjusted to make them work. My industry experience really helps me deliver material to students. It is easier for me to give examples and layer theory into real-life cases, and vice versa, my teaching experience helps me when mentoring some of my employees.
Teaching in further education is something that has always appealed to me and brings me lots of satisfaction. Knowing that I have the opportunity to pass my knowledge on to others and watching them reach their full potential and exceed their own expectations makes me feel very proud.
In regard to my own business, helping small businesses and private residential people with their IT needs is a really fulfilling job. My duties change depending onto the jobs that I am doing at that particular time. This can include research and investigation, designing and coding, installations, repairs and training.
Students are always interested in hearing real stories of the job as it gives them insights on what they can expect themselves.”
Both jobs are enjoyable and fulfilling but they come with some challenges. It is important to have strong organisational skills and good discipline in both roles.
In terms of my further education teaching, there is a lot to do around teaching classes, such as preparation, lesson plans, evaluation, marking and admin work. You may also need to support your students with personal needs. For example, some of them might have learning difficulties, health problems or issues at home, which may impact their performance and concentration. But this is what I find so fulfilling in this role – you have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students.
As a further education teacher, you have to consider these factors, and be prepared to adjust your approach to provide the best support possible. It’s not always easy to do, but I have so many people at the college that are always ready to provide me with guidance and support.
Not every job can be flexible enough so that you can be with your family when needed. One of the reasons I started my own business was because I wanted to make enough time for my family, especially in cases when I was needed at home. Similarly, teaching in further education is flexible, so I can teach part-time alongside my small business and family life.
Teaching in further education, managing a business and having a family all come with their own set of demands. So, how do I make it work? I use communication and understanding which are key. Without them, neither your business, your employer nor your family will benefit.
Teaching in further education is flexible and has enabled me to continue to work and share my skills in the industry I love whilst spending time with my family.
Communication and understanding are key for any work-life balance. I was clear from the start that my employer knew that I had a family and business to look after. I also knew that the college needed me at specific times for teaching, so compromises were made to move forward. As a result, I found a good balance between both of the jobs as well as my family life.
As a father, I am very conscious about the education of my children. So, when the opportunity to teach in further education arose, I realised there was a chance to have an impact on other people’s lives and that I had a lot of industry expertise that I could share.
The great advantage of teaching in further education is that it provides me with an opportunity to learn new skills whilst offering a fresh way to use my experience acquired in industry. It is a win – win situation.
Teaching in further education is flexible and has enabled me to continue to work and share my skills in the industry I love whilst spending time with my family.”
You don’t always need a teaching qualification to start teaching in further education, as you can train on the job. When I started teaching in further education, it was a bit intimidating, as I have never taken on the role of a teacher before. However, I quickly realised that my industry experience and qualifications were really valuable in the classroom as I could share what I knew with confidence.
When I started to work towards my PGCE, it provided me not just with a teaching qualification but also the extra techniques, skills and tips I needed to deliver lessons effectively.
I was very excited but also a bit nervous. However, after I finished the first lesson, I was pleased with how it went.
As time went on, I started to feel more comfortable and confident. I was also receiving tips and support from other colleagues on how to manage the classroom, which was really helpful. By the end of the first day, I had a good feeling about it – I could see that I already had the skills needed and would be able to do it.
Organisation and communication skills are very important. I have to make sure I only take on what I can manage. It is crucial for me to know my limitations so I can perform better.
At some moments I have thought, “This is too much, studying, teaching, working and being there for my family”. But, my family were very supportive, as well as my colleagues at work. I couldn’t do it without them. For that I am very grateful.
For me, the secret is finding the balance between work, studies and personal life. It is not easy and sometimes I have to compromise to do it all, but I always try to stop and step back to look at what I have achieved and where I am at now.
Working in further education gives me more flexibility which allows me to spend holidays with my kids, as well as being there for them on a daily basis, so I can pick them up from school and attend parent’s evenings.
I’d recommend teaching in further education to other industry professionals looking for more flexibility in their work life or for those seeking a new way to use their skills – both in the IT industry and beyond. It’s a fantastic way to gain that work/life balance whilst changing the lives of others.
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