Haili Hughes

I'm passionate about the people who make education work: teachers. My career has been dedicated to supporting them, from their first day in the classroom to leadership roles that shape whole school communities.

As an international expert in teacher mentoring, instructional coaching, professional development at scale, and teacher retention, I work at the intersection of research, policy and practice. I’m proud to be Director of Professional Development at All Saints MAT (in 11 schools) and Professor of Teacher Mentoring and Coaching at Academica UoAS—making me the only professor in England who also serves as a trust leader. This dual role offers a unique perspective on sustainable teacher development across systems.

Previously, I taught English in the state sector for 20 years, including time as Head of Department and member of SLT—experience that grounds all my work.