Debbie Khadi, DYW School Coordinator at Kingussie High School & Grantown Grammar School

Debbie Khadi, DYW School Coordinator at Kingussie High School & Grantown Grammar School

Introducing Debbie Khadi
Debbie Khadi brings 30 years of professional experience to her role as a School Coordinator for Kingussie High School and Grantown Grammar School. Having spent the last three years with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), Debbie is passionate about supporting young people as they explore their future career paths. As a mother of grown-up children about to embark on their own travels, she is familiar with the challenges young people face when navigating the world beyond school. Outside of work, Debbie loves spending time outdoors, particularly enjoying the occasional wild swim, and has a keen interest in true crime documentaries. Above all, her time with friends, family, and travel is what she loves most.

What Debbie Loves About Being a DYW School Coordinator
Debbie thrives on the autonomy and variety her role offers. No two days are the same, and she enjoys working alongside teachers, employers, and learning providers to create meaningful experiences for young people. For her, the most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing the impact that events and activities have on the students she works with—especially when they inspire a young person to take the first step on their career journey.

Excitement for the New Academic Year
With the new school year underway, Debbie is eager to see the fruition of several major events planned for this academic year. She is excited about the potential these events have to inspire and engage students. Debbie is also looking forward to building new connections with employers and working alongside teachers to help bring the curriculum to life for young people.

Debbie’s Journey: #NoWrongPath
Like many, Debbie’s career journey has taken several turns. During her school and University years she had several part-time jobs in Hospitality and Tourism which she feels gave her lots of transferrable skills, particularly confidence in communication. Originally, she thought she would pursue Engineering or Engineering Drawing, but after finding Maths and Physics more challenging than expected, she shifted gears. She completed a degree in European Business Administration and Languages at Robert Gordon University, which gave her a broad skillset and took her to France for a year of study. After university, Debbie worked at her mother’s travel agency before taking on the role of Office and Operations Manager at the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI), where she spent 14 years. Throughout her varied career, one key lesson Debbie has learned is to embrace mistakes and focus on finding solutions.

Advice for Her Younger Self
Debbie’s advice to her younger self is clear: “The decisions you make at school don’t define the rest of your life. If you’re unsure of the whole path, just take the next step—every experience will benefit you in some way. As a young parent, and in general, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Debbie’s story highlights the value of taking different paths in life and learning from each step. As a DYW School Coordinator, she hopes to inspire young people to explore opportunities, trust their own instincts, and not be afraid to change course as they discover their passions.

Contact Debbie today…

…if you’d like to explore DYW opportunities connected with Kingussie High School and Grantown Grammar School then please get in touch with Debbie at debbie.khadi@dywich.co.uk

Or visit our DYW Inverness & Central Highland - What's on - get involved (padlet.com) platform to get a full picture of our programme of activity across our 14 secondary schools and get in touch today to find out more!