Hear from our recent graduates
Sarah-Jane Becroft
Winmalee High School
Science
Sarah-Jane Becroft originally completed a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Sydney before deciding to add a Bachelor of Teaching to her credentials; she has recently also completed her Master of Teaching. Originally working as a dietician, Sarah-Jane found she enjoyed teaching nutrition and interacting with adolescents. It was then that she decided to combine both teaching and her love of science. Sarah-Jane actually began teaching casually in Term 4 last year, thanks to the interim teaching approval she obtained after successfully completing the GRP requirements. “One of the benefits of being able to undertake casual teaching is that it gives you a good foundation on which to build your classroom skills,” she says.
Tim Creighton
Kingswood High School
English
Before making up his mind over which career path to choose, Tim Creighton decided to go backpacking in South America for three years. “Backpacking in third world countries gives you a deep appreciation of the opportunities we enjoy here,” says Tim. Upon his return he took up a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching at the University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus, and he is now an English/drama teacher at Kingswood High School. With both his parents being public school teachers, Tim says he has a deep respect for people who choose education as a lifelong career: “It has made me more aware of the challenges they face every day.”
Mario El-Haddad
Fowler Road School
Special Education
Mario El-Haddad graduated with a Bachelor of Special Education (Primary) from the University of Technology, Sydney, and this year began his teaching career at the Fowler Road School for Specific Purposes. Mario learned early on that he had an affinity for teaching, and a knack for dealing with young students. He puts these skills to good use as he deals with special needs students. He advises students considering a teaching career: “Get as much experience as possible in dealing with young children especially in activities like tutoring or coaching,” he says.
Rebecca Hutchings
South West Rocks Public School
Primary
Rebecca Hutchings completed her Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Teaching last year at Charles Sturt University in Dubbo, and now teaches at South West Rocks Public School on the North Coast. Rebecca received an Aboriginal teacher education scholarship and looks forward to promoting indigenous education as a cornerstone of her teaching career. “My main aim is to raise Aboriginal students’ education standards so that they can become the best they can be in life.” As a mother of two, Rebecca wants to ensure they can look up to her as an example of what can be achieved through education. “I want to be a role model for Aboriginal kids, and most of all for my children.”
Trevor James
Colyton Public School
Primary
Trevor James was a hairdresser for 23 years before he decided to pursue a teaching career. He “fell” into hairdressing by virtue of an apprenticeship, but even as a child he had dreamt of becoming a teacher. “I enjoyed hairdressing, but I knew that it wasn’t something I wanted to do forever.” Trevor secured an Aboriginal teacher education scholarship and in June 2008 graduated from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst with a Bachelor of Teaching in Primary Education. Shortly thereafter he began his teaching career at Colyton Public School, and he has been enjoying every minute of his new career ever since: “I’m just absolutely loving it.”
Michelle Newman-Jennings
East Maitland Public School
Primary
Nearly 20 years after finishing high school, during which she took time off to raise a daughter, Michelle Newman completed her Bachelor of Education (Primary) last year at the University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus, with the aid of an Aboriginal teacher education scholarship. She has begun her teaching career of East Maitland Public School. “I come from a family that very much values education,” Michelle says proudly. Michelle looks forward to influencing young people’s lives, especially those of her Aboriginal students. “I believe I can serve as a role model to show what they themselves can achieve.”
Alana Kelley
Revesby Public School
Special Education
Alana Kelley started out with a career as a social worker, where she worked in close proximity with disadvantaged families. Her contact with children in these situations made her ask herself, “I know I’m making a difference, but is it enough?” The question led her to begin thinking about a teaching career. Last year she graduated with a Bachelor of Teaching degree from the University of Newcastle, and this year she joins the teaching staff of Revesby Public School as a teacher of children with special needs. Her new school is a couple of hours away from her hometown of Gosford in the Central Coast. “The location is ideal for me as it means I’m only about 2-1/2 hours drive away from my family, and I can go home on weekends.” More importantly, she knows she can truly make a difference to children’s lives in her new career.
Simon Kermode
Hay War Memorial High School
Music
Simon Kermode has made a real ‘tree change’ taking up an appointment as a music teacher at Hay War Memorial High School, 1400kms away from his hometown of Lismore. A 2008 graduate of Southern Cross University with a bachelor’s degree in contemporary music and education, Simon is happy to make the move to Hay, which had been one of his location preferences when he applied. Hay Memorial is one of the schools that enjoys teacher housing subsidies – one more added benefit Simon enjoys in his chosen career. Another is the satisfaction of making a difference to his students’ lives. “It’s a warm experience to be able to pass on my joy of music, and of learning, to others.”
Erin Lennox
Griffith High School
Special Education
When she first got the phone call advising of her appointment to teach special needs students at Griffith High School, Erin Lennox confesses that she didn’t even know where Griffith was: “I had to look it up on the map!” she recalls with a laugh. After all, she had lived most of her life in Narrabri, nearly 700km away. Erin graduated last year with a Bachelor of Teaching degree from the University of Newcastle, and is settling nicely into her new surroundings. “As the days go by I’m starting to get to know people, meet more staff, and things are going pretty well,” she says.
Shelley Little
Kooringal High School
English/Drama
Shelley Little comes from a long line of teachers. “Both my parents are public school teachers, my grandmother was a teacher, and my great-grandmother, while not a qualified teacher, taught many children in her community to read and write,” says Shelley. The teaching bug bit deep, and last year Shelley graduated with a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. This year she began her career as an English/drama teacher at Kooringal High School. “My great-grandmother was determined to teach me about my Aboriginal past,” says Shelley. “I knew that I had the power to help bring about change and betterment. My mother said to me, if you become a teacher, you will be in a position to help the Aboriginal community."
Rebecca Muir
Claymore Public School
Primary
After high school, Rebecca Muir put aside schooling for a few years to raise a family. Eventually she picked up work as a teachers aide, and teachers at the school took immediate notice of her: more than one remarked to her, “you would make a really good teacher.” Thanks to an Aboriginal teacher education scholarship from the Department, Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Wollongong and has now begun her teaching career at Claymore Public School. Rebecca looks forward to making a cultural connection with the school’s Aboriginal students and community, and passing on her love for learning.
James Peter
Peak Hill Central School
Industrial Technology
James Peter grew up in the Central Western town of Mendooran, and knew he wanted to become a teacher from a very early age, especially since his mother was herself a public school teacher. “I also had a very inspiring industrial technology teacher, who helped cement my existing passion for industrial arts and woodwork,” he says. Graduating last year with a technology education degree from Southern Cross University, James is now an industrial technology teacher at Peak Hill Central School, about 150km from his hometown. “The staff and students have all been very supportive and welcoming,” he says. As a beginning teacher James knows he has a lot to learn, and he will be taking some valuable lessons from his colleagues and from his students.
