Going the distance in Senior College teaching

How did your journey at St Andrew’s Cathedral School begin?

I started working at the School as a casual teacher in 2015 while I was finishing my Master’s Degree. After two years of teaching in the UK, I came back in 2019 as a Humanities teacher and I’ve been here ever since.

You have been instrumental in introducing Aboriginal Studies in the Senior College, how did this begin?

As a student at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, I spent a week in Gawura for work experience, and really enjoyed it. When I returned as a staff member, I started doing two afternoons a week at Homework Club, tutoring the secondary Gawura Scholarship students. When we introduced Year 9 Aboriginal Studies in 2022, I was asked if I’d be interested in teaching it. I have now taught that class for two years and am introducing Aboriginal Studies as a HSC subject in 2024.

“It’s been a privilege to be able to teach students about the world’s oldest living culture. Teaching students about the rich traditions, histories, and perspectives helps students appreciate the diversity, growth and depth of Aboriginal cultures.”

What have you enjoyed most about teaching Aboriginal Studies?

It’s been a privilege to be able to teach students about the world’s oldest living culture. Teaching students about the rich traditions, histories, and perspectives helps students appreciate the diversity, growth and depth of Aboriginal cultures. The topics we study often challenge conventional perspectives and encourage critical thinking. Exploring issues such as colonialism, land rights, and cultural preservation can stimulate meaningful discussions and empower students to think critically about social justice and equity. As a teacher, it’s incredibly rewarding.

You also recently became the Year 10 Personal Project Coordinator, what does that involve?

The Personal Project is a culmination of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) experience. Every student in Year 10 completes a project of their own choice over the course of a year. As Coordinator, I communicate with parents, plan and run sessions for students and help support the eight Personal Project Supervisors. The highlight is the Personal Project Exhibition in Term 3, where students have an opportunity to showcase their project to their peers and parents.

I have enjoyed getting to know different students, their interests and see the exciting and original projects that so many of them create as part of the Personal Project.

What made you want to get involved in the coordination of the Personal Project?

I was asked to be a Supervisor in 2019 when it was introduced, and have done it every year since. I have enjoyed getting to know different students, their interests and see the exciting and original projects that so many of them create. It’s a great opportunity to work with students in a different context.

You have juggled all of this with organising the Year 11 History Tour, what has been the most exciting part of organising the History Tour?

I teach both HSC Modern and IB History, so I am excited to take the students out of the classroom to see history in real life! Seeing the World War I battlefields in person is much more meaningful than reading about casualty numbers. This year there is a student coming on the tour who has a relative buried near the Somme in France, and we are lucky to be able to visit the grave, so students can have a personal connection to the places they visit.

“I am excited to take the students out of the classroom to see history in real life!”

Why is it important for our students to pursue their passion on international tours? What do you think they take away from it?

For many of the students coming on the trip, it will be their first time overseas without parents, so its an important opportunity for the students’ personal growth and independence. They also get an opportunity to gain more insight into the topics they will be studying in Year 12 as they visit and analyse different historical sites. International tours give students a better understanding of the world around and is important to a global education.

You are also an Old Andrean, do you find it beneficial to be working at your own school? What do your students think of it?

For the most part, students are very interested in the fact that I went to St Andrew’s Cathedral School, the students and I can bond over the fact that we all had Mr Boddy as a Science teacher! There is a photo of me as a student on display somewhere in St Andrew’s House (I won’t reveal where) and I always send students on a scavenger hunt to try and find it at the start of the year. I have a great understanding of the culture of the School, and spending a lot of my day in lifts in both buildings is completely normal to me!

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