Life before Girton
- 2010 – 2014 – Bachelor of Physical and Outdoor Education (LaTrobe University Bendigo)
- 2014 – 2015 – Casual Relief Teacher in the Bellarine Peninsula. Term contracts included St Josephs College Geelong and Geelong Christian College
- 2015 – 2017 – Notre Dame Secondary College. Teacher of Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Science, Health and Physical Education. Sports Co-ordinator.
- 2017 – Present – Girton Grammar School. Sports Excellence Programme Facilitator, Teacher of Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Physical Education. Acting Assistant Head of Frew (2019)
What I Love about Teaching:
I love the daily interactions between staff and students. I love learning about students successes outside of the classroom as well as seeing them talk excitedly about their passions. By developing these strong relationships with students you are able to connect with them on a deeper level to fully engage them in the classroom. Each student has a unique learning style and part of the challenge is working out how to best engage them in the classroom.
At Girton Grammar School, I really appreciate the opportunity that I have been given to work with my caring, compassionate and enthusiastic colleagues. I am a part of many sub committees within Girton to help develop the culture here at Girton.
What is the best thing about teaching at Girton?
One of my favourite parts of the job is helping students in the gym work towards their sporting goals. Seeing them put in countless hours of preparation to achieve sporting success is extremely rewarding and I am able to help them through the highs and the lows of their sporting career. Helping the students achieve what they want beyond their schooling tenure is something that motivates me and helps drive my enthusiasm.
My favourite classroom activity
There are a number of activities and experiences that I really enjoy. Spending time on camp is a great way to get to know the students on a more personal level. Pushing them beyond their comfort zone is extremely rewarding as I can see how much they get from challenge when they reflect on the activity later.
What difference can good teaching make?
Good teachers are valuable resources to students. Good teachers assist students not only motivating students to learn, but teaching them how to learn and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful and memorable. In the Gym you are teaching them skills they will learn for life, by teaching students how their bodies move and operate they will gain knowledge they can keep for a lifetime to live a healthy and active life.
Other Hats
I am involved in a number of Co-Curricular activities at Girton; I am coaching a basketball side currently and have relished the opportunity to coach such a great team. Having grown up playing basketball I have been able to transfer some of the skills learnt then to my current team.
I have always been in and around gyms. Having a passion for the fitness led me to completing my level one Crossfit accreditation before using these qualifications as Head Coach at Goulburn Valley Crossfit before moving to Bendigo. Since then I have completed my Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Certificate and plan to complete my Masters in high performance sport in the years to come.
