Michelle started her career as a Cardiothoracic Staff Nurse before pursuing her longstanding interest in politics by retraining as a teacher of Modern Studies at the University of Stirling. During her studies Michelle engaged with educational research and was latterly awarded a departmental studentship to complete her MRes. Educational Research thesis on the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence in Scottish secondary schools. Michelle is a GTCS registered teacher of Modern Studies who is employed as a Research Assistant on the Nuffield Foundation funded project: 'Choice, attainment and positive destinations: exploring the impact of curriculum policy change on young people'.