“I always thought of myself as a hard worker—a workaholic, even—until I met you, Sally 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more dedicated to their job and to their students, more passionate about what they do, or more selfless in how they do it. Your impact isn’t just on your trainees, but on your colleagues as well. I’m sure there are thousands of people out there who share my opinion and who wish you nothing but all the good in the world. ”

— Ramy

“Sally did one of her first ever teacher training sessions when I was a brand new teacher at Interlang in Bakirkoy in 1996. Many years later she was a trainer on my DELTA course. We worked together at the BC and collaborated and wrote a conference proceeding for ATEE in 2015. Our lives have connected in so many different ways and I always benefited from each interaction 🥰🥰🥰”

— Gaele Mac

“Dear Sally, It’s hard to find words to express how much you’ve done to shape me as a teacher. Your sessions made me think and reevaluate my philosophy many times. I’ve always admired your patience – you’ve always seemed like a superhero to me. So knowledgeable, so dedicated, true inspiration! There’s a part of you in every lesson I teach.”

— Anastasia

“Dear Sally Just a quick message to say that I have met a few inspiring teachers in my 20 odd years of teaching, but you are one of those who were and are still the most inspiring. This inspiration seemed to come with almost no effort from your side and had a big impact on my teaching. Thank you for this…I still think of you, 12+ years after my DELTA. I wish for you the all the best! ”

— Ferda

“Sally made a lasting impression on me during my DELTA M3 course. She was incredibly supportive and went above and beyond to provide detailed feedback on every section, even when it wasn’t required. Her dedication and strong work ethic were truly inspiring and motivating. Collaborating with Sally was an absolute delight!”

— Hamed Sherif

“Hi Sally, some of the most instructive, and least painful, episodes of doing the DELTA for me, those moments where the different pieces started to fit and make sense together, happen to be the ones where you were teaching. I am continually surprised by the number of people in the EFL world who I meet, from the UK to Turkey to China and back, who have nothing else in common other than being your former students with vivid memories of your lessons and teaching to share. With respect and gratitude..”

— Terence

“Dear Sally, Thank you for the inspiration and guidance you gave me throughout my Delta journey. Your clarity, passion, and support have shaped the teacher I am today. Your influence lives on in every classroom I step into. With deep gratitude and admiration, Alev. ”

— Alev G

“Thank you, Sally, for everything I had the honour of experiencing as your trainee – for those golden “aha!” moments, for the deep dives into the “why”s that inevitably gravitated towards your door, for the spirit of acknowledging and appreciating the complexity of teaching and learning, for setting the bar high and leading by example, for your determination to illuminate the bigger picture and the myriad of its reflections. Deeply grateful to have been trained by you and honoured to carry a cherished imprint of your influence forward.”

— Olga A

“Sally, The iconic figure who showered me with academic care and knowledge. I have been one of your students, Yes, have been, because the effect of your efforts is endless and immortal. Thank you so.much for everything you did for me. If it was possible to care away all your pains, I would have done without a blink of an eye. All my respect Akram”

— Akram Allam

“A huge hug from Germany and a massive thank you for the inspiration Sally!.”

— Nur

“Dearest Sally, Your humour, encouragement and precise feedback were all central to my DELTA success. I left Turkey in 2019, and in the years since I finished at ITI in 2016 I have always imagined you still running trails around Istanbul’s green spaces; little did I know that you had been afflicted with ALS. I will never forget the piercing intellect that simmered just behind your eyes, as well as the sharp wit and erudition with which you enthralled us all during the training sessions you delivered. I consider myself very fortunate to have benefited from your teaching. I am so very sorry to learn of your condition, and wish you comfort and peace in these testing times. Godspeed Umair”

— Umair Ahsan

“Sally inspired me to be a better teacher and a more confident person. I admired her style, her manner of talking, her fitness routines (I still remember that she used to run in the forest and drink only natural juices), and her warm attitude to us, trainees.”

— Anna Ayliffe

“Oh… this is not what I was expecting to hear… such a shame… MND is an awful disease, no other way to describe it. No one deserves it. Sally, you were just as Tom described – an inspiration to everyone that you encountered. Indeed, we remember the good ones, and boy were you one of them! I’m still in Education, but after 12 years’ teaching I progressed into Assessment Design and Curriculum Design, eventually ending up in Quality Assurance, which I love. I have often thought about you over the years and will continue to do so. Keep shining brightly wherever you may be. Xxx”

— Joseph Roberts

“Dear Sally, We met on the Delta course in 2016, and you’ve been the kind of teacher trainer I’ve aspired to be ever since. Thank you for your energy, kindness, and the wealth of knowledge you shared with us. I’m a better teacher thanks to you!.”

— Yuliya

“Dear Sally, I first saw you inline in 2018 and met you in Istanbul in 2019. I have always admired your beautiful energy and the way you approach life with such genuine enthusiasm. Your supportive smile and your kindness carried us through the hardest moments of DELTA, and I will always be grateful for the strength, patience, and encouragement you gave us. Even knowing the challenges you were facing, I was always amazed by how you managed to remain bright, steady, and full of spirit. Your resilience has been nothing short of inspiring. I want you to know that you will always remain one of the brightest role models I’ve ever had. Your presence didn’t just support my learning and shape my teaching—it touched me deeply and changed me as a person. Thank you for everything. You’ve left a lasting mark on my life, and I will carry a spark of your influence with me always💫”

— Ivana Jocic

“Sally was my tutor when I was doing the Delta, and I still vividly remember the very first day I met her. It was December 2nd, 2019, right after I had sat for the Module 1 exam. It was cold and rainy, and I was exhausted. My mind was numb. When I joined the interview for Module 2, it was the first time I had the chance to speak to her. She asked me a series of questions to see if I was ready for the course, but my mind went blank, and nothing came to me. She looked at me, a bit disappointed, and finally asked, “Have you ever read anything in ELT? Can you tell me just one author you know?” I still couldn’t give her a name, even the name of Scott Thornbury, whose work I had already read. I was nervous, excited, and completely overwhelmed. I admired her so much that I could barely think straight. She told me honestly, “If you want my suggestion, you’re not ready. I can’t guarantee you’ll pass.” Then she added, “But if you truly believe you can do it, that’s your responsibility.” I registered anyway. I had set my heart on the Delta, and that conversation became the starting point of the journey. After COVID, when everything went online, I didn’t see her for a long time. Later, I learned she had been diagnosed with that cruel illness. Even then, she stayed in touch by email, always kind and clear. One day, she shared her address and said she would be happy if I visited, so I started going regularly. Those visits became precious to me. Sally has always been an inspiring figure in my life. I admire her deeply, and I still speak about her with the greatest respect. This memory is one of the reasons she’ll always hold a special place in my heart.😍 Mehrave”

— Mehrave

“Huge thanks to Sally for being such an incredible DELTA trainer! Your expertise, kindness, and motivating feedback made this journey so much better. Your thoughtful guidance, patience, and support meant more than you know. I’m truly grateful for all you’ve poured into this process.”

— Elham Helmy

“Anyone who has known you is lucky and any teacher who has been trained by you is even luckier. The world is a better place with you in it.”

— Yavuz

“Sally taught me more than ELT, she taught me life lessons of dedication and sincere work. Her sessions were so informative, engaging . My prayers for her to quickly recover and to continue inspiring many teachers out there”

— Nada

“Dear Sally! You are a great role model and inspirer. I was honoured to be one of your trainees, and I recollect your vigour and enthusiasm with which you came to sessions with very warm feelings. I wish you nothing but good and strength.”

— Irina

“I did my DELTA module 1 in 2019 and found it incredibly challenging (also overwhelming as I had two different jobs at the time and was quite young) I remember the amazing (despite many shockingly low scores I initially received due to my own lack of studying) advice, helpful and kind comments from Sally as well as just being an excellent teacher made a lasting impression on me. I think the fact that she could leave such a positive feeling on someone she probably didn’t spend that much time with (it was an online course) shows how much she cared and I really appreciated it and have tried to be that kind of teacher in my career. I also passed by some miracle! With respect and wishing you all the comfort and love. ”

— Sujita

“This world has known one Sally, and it will never know another. 💛❤️🙏 Dearest Sally, you don’t need an introduction, because your kindness, wisdom, and humanity live on in every teacher you’ve touched, me very much included. From my CELTA and DELTA, to our chats and little moments at ITI, to your online videos and everything in between… you’ve always been there as a quiet, steady source of support and inspiration. You didn’t just help me become a better teacher; you helped me become a better person. You are an amazing person, an extraordinary educator, and your impact goes so far beyond ELT. It’s in how we think, how we teach, how we treat people, and how we carry ourselves in the world. Thank you for being with us. Thank you, Sally, for making a real difference in this world, not only in my profession, but in the lives and hearts of everyone lucky enough to cross your path. ❤️🙏 ”

— Mohammad Zamanipour

“Dear Sally, If I had to describe you in one word, it would be “passion.”What I always remember about you is your deep knowledge and natural ability to train teachers. Your solid character, calm manner, and strong professionalism make you a distinctive person, and the impact you had on me as a teacher will last forever. In one of your M3 sessions, you once said, “If it hurts, it works.” I always remember it whenever I struggle in my life. Thank you for your spark, and inspiration Sally. With love and respect, Khatereh ”

— Khatereh

“Sally I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You may not remember me, it was so long ago, I just wanted to say you really left a huge impression on me when I did my DELTA, I found you so inspiring. I am also terminally ill, in my case with cancer. It makes me think a lot about memory and legacy, and goodness me Sally if I have inspired those around me anywhere near as much as you have, it will be a blessing and a comfort as I hope it is to you. Sending so much love, Tara, xx”

— Tara

“Dear Sally, Thank you for touching my heart in a way I will never forget . Your smile, dedication, uniqueness and kindness taught me as much as your lessons. Even at your hardest times, your resilience and strengths will continue to inspire everyone. Forever grateful!”

— Mayada B

“Thank you Sally for all of your guidance, leadership and kindness when I was doing my Delta with ITI in 2015. It changed the trajectory of my career, and taught me so much about teaching and training. You’ve touched so many lives and should be so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Sending love and light XX”

— Ruth

“Only later did I understand how lucky I was to get on the Delta course and get Sally as my first tutor. Active, crazy smart, looking great, running marathons, managing unmanageable – I thought what it was – she was there handling all at once – replying to emails almost promptly, guiding, making us reflect, encouraging, being human and pushing everyone to an extent we could be pushed. Thanks to you, I became a CELTA trainer and do what I do and I do it well. It was an honour, a pleasure, an opportunity to be trained by you, Sally! Thank you for pushing and shaping and setting the standards – have always been high!”

— Natalie

“Dear Sally, Thank you for your support and guidance throughout my DELTA journey. Even in moments when you weren’t my tutor, you still reached out, checked in, and offered help. That generosity of time and care says so much about you. You have shaped the training experience of many generations of English teachers and learners, and for that, we are all grateful.”

— Olfa

“Dear Sally and ITI staff, I’m from Argentina and Sally was the one who introduced me to the world of Delta and she helped me throughout in 2019. It is very sad to hear she’s suffering from this horrible disease. My heart goes to you, dear Sally. Hope you can find peace.”

— Ale

“It’s not hard to imagine how many students’ learning experiences have changed for better over the past years all thanks to the indelible impact Sally has had on those, yours truly included, who taught them. Every time colleagues share stories of their development, mine involving Sally from DELTA Module 2 in 2015 easily stand out. I began to see teaching and learning differently from then on and have since taken much more joy from my job with a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in learning English. The world has become a better place with Sally. We all owe her a lot.”

— Masood Azimi

“Dear Sally, thank you for all you have done for me while I was a student at the International Training Institute. Your teaching style was remarkable and left a long impact in my memory and everyday practice. You will not be forgotten! Nela”

— Nela Koncurat

“Hi Sally. It is difficult to put into words the impact you have had on my development as a teacher during the DELTA and long after it ended. Even once I had finished at ITI, I went back a few times just to talk with you because you were always warm, honest and a pleasure to be around. Your energy, enthusiasm and intelligence have stayed with me, and I have always valued them. You remain one of my favourite people in the world.”

— Golshan Jazi

“Dear Sally, I was saddened to learn of your illness and I hope you are being given the love, care and attention that you deserve. You taught me remotely at ITI for Module 3 of the DELTA in 2012. I was teaching in Italy at the time and had previously failed Module 3 with a UK based DELTA provider in 2010. Because of your detailed and timely feedback, your clear and precise advice, your input and continual instruction, you guided me to gain a Merit in Module 3 that year. For Modules 1 and 2 taken in the UK in 2009 I had only obtained a pass for each. This for me shows your irrefutable expertise as a tutor. I admire you and I am thankful for the time and attention you gave my draft submissions. Sally, without you, I would not have passed the DELTA. Without the DELTA I would not have worked in EAP these last 13 years. I would not have secured a position with a British university in China, would not have stayed there to save enough for a mortgage in the UK and would not have met my Chinese wife, who is now living with me in the UK. You were instrumental in all these things happening and I thank you from my heart. God bless you. Love to you from John Bennett”

— John Bennett

“Thank you, Sally, for your hard work and dedication to English language learning, teachers, and students. Your smile is contagious and your humor was always appreciated. All my best! Sincerely, DELTA 2009, Dr. Amy Erenay.”

— Dr. Amy Erenay

“Dear Sally, It was a privilege to be one of your students. Everyone knows how dedicated you are. Beyond all of this, you have been an inspiration in showing that a truly great teacher is, above all, a good person. Through your positivity and knowledge, you have inspired and shaped the lives of so many people. I cannot thank you enough for everything you taught!”

— Teodora Delibasoglu