Meet Zelpher
Born and raised in Birmingham, Zelpher has spent her life supporting children - especially those who do not always fit into traditional education - and creating inclusive, caring learning spaces.
Zelpher’s passion for child development began early. First as a nanny in London, then quickly progressing to working in a nursery in Witton at 19. From there, she qualified as a primary teacher and built a multifaceted career in education, spanning teaching, leadership, lecturing, and advisory roles across the UK.
Her commitment to autism and ADHD began in her first teaching post, shaped by a student who, as she puts it, “really stood out because his needs were so unique”. He excelled in maths but struggled with communication and connection. “I did everything I thought was right, everything I knew at the time, but nothing quite worked,” she recalls. “Then I started reading about neurodiversity, which wasn’t even a word people used back then, and something clicked.”
That experience became the foundation of her life’s work. Today, Zelpher focuses on supporting children with additional needs, especially around autism, ADHD, and trauma. “What I do now is really a mix of everything I’ve picked up over the years — teaching, supporting families, advocating for children, and just being someone who listens and tries to help.”
She is driven by a powerful principle: “I’m passionate about being the kind of adult I needed when I was younger - someone who sees the child, hears them, believes them, and tries to make it better.”
Nicknamed the “behaviour detective,” Zelpher is known for her deep curiosity and empathy.
Her work now extends beyond childhood. She supports adults newly diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia and mentors future community leaders, helping them turn lived experience into action and advocacy.
One of her most moving experiences came in 2019 on a volunteer teaching trip to rural Ghana. In the remote village of Larabanga, she met a quiet boy who told her: “I want my education to be better.” That moment sparked a life-changing mission. She arranged for him to attend boarding school where he now thrives, preparing for senior high with dreams of becoming a teacher.
“That one chance meeting reminded me what teaching is truly about: inspiring and opening doors for others,” she says.
Now based in Birmingham again, Zelpher reflects, “I’ve worked in so many different places, but I’ve ended up back here. I never said I wouldn’t return, but I didn’t exactly see it happening either. And yet, something drew me back.”
Zelpher’s story is one of relentless learning, fierce compassion, and a deep belief in the power of education - not just to inform, but to transform lives.
Page last updated: 7 July 2025
