who am i?
- an innovative international educator with 30+ years of experience in private and public, urban and rural, national and international schools
- a TCK: Australian by birth, I have lived and worked in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France, Hong Kong, South Korea and Bulgaria
- wife of a high school psychology, TOK, history, religion teacher
- an adventurous spirit with a passion for travel
- a person who "wish[es] to live deliberately" and seeks to "suck out all the marrow of life" - Thoreau, Walden
- a compassionate individual with a heart to serve a lover of languages and literature who wants to die trilingual
what are my beliefs about education?
My philosophy of education is best encapsulated in Nelson Mandela’s statement:
“Education is a powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Learning is transformational. What I do in the classroom is much more than teaching students how to write an essay or analyse a poem. I teach students how to learn. I equip them to think critically, seek understanding, ask questions, expand their horizons, consider alternate perspectives, and find their own voice. All this, so that they can participate as active and informed global citizens in order to transform society and create a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.
Learning is about discovery. I engage learners in the collaborative exploration of the human experience through a process of shared inquiry which values the question as much as the answer, process as much as product, the journey as much as the destination. My lessons give students the chance to make and create, to experiment, to learn through trial and error, to demonstrate original thinking. I encourage students to take risks, test their boundaries, make mistakes and construct meaning for themselves. I facilitate this through the creation of engaging learning opportunities that allow student ownership of learning, are responsive to students’ suggestions, provide choice, challenge and fun.
Learning is relational. I value pastoral care highly and take time to build positive relationships with students. I try to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment in which diversity is celebrated, and individuals are respected. I actively pursue social justice by affirming the human dignity and worth of all learners, treating students equitably and actively discouraging intolerance and prejudice. I also seek to build partnerships with parents as this allows me to more effectively cater for my students’ learning needs.
All students are capable of learning and have the right to realise their potential. I am flexible and respond to students’ needs, interests, abilities, personalities, and learning styles. My lessons recognise, value and cater for individual difference. I provide appropriately challenging learning experiences that extend each student. I offer constructive feedback encouraging students to reflect on their learning and work towards individual growth and improvement.
Learning is lifelong. My role is to awaken curiosity, spark passion, build confidence, teach responsibility, promote reflection and kindle a lifelong love of learning. My lessons equip students with a toolkit of skills that they can use throughout their lives to learn independently.
Learning extends beyond the classroom. I make learning relevant and authentic by connecting what we are doing in the classroom with the real world and with the lives of my students. I actively support the co-curricular programs of the school, recognising the important role they play in developing the whole child and promoting balance. These activities enable me to get to know students in a different setting and share my own interests and passions beyond the curriculum.
“Education is a powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Learning is transformational. What I do in the classroom is much more than teaching students how to write an essay or analyse a poem. I teach students how to learn. I equip them to think critically, seek understanding, ask questions, expand their horizons, consider alternate perspectives, and find their own voice. All this, so that they can participate as active and informed global citizens in order to transform society and create a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.
Learning is about discovery. I engage learners in the collaborative exploration of the human experience through a process of shared inquiry which values the question as much as the answer, process as much as product, the journey as much as the destination. My lessons give students the chance to make and create, to experiment, to learn through trial and error, to demonstrate original thinking. I encourage students to take risks, test their boundaries, make mistakes and construct meaning for themselves. I facilitate this through the creation of engaging learning opportunities that allow student ownership of learning, are responsive to students’ suggestions, provide choice, challenge and fun.
Learning is relational. I value pastoral care highly and take time to build positive relationships with students. I try to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment in which diversity is celebrated, and individuals are respected. I actively pursue social justice by affirming the human dignity and worth of all learners, treating students equitably and actively discouraging intolerance and prejudice. I also seek to build partnerships with parents as this allows me to more effectively cater for my students’ learning needs.
All students are capable of learning and have the right to realise their potential. I am flexible and respond to students’ needs, interests, abilities, personalities, and learning styles. My lessons recognise, value and cater for individual difference. I provide appropriately challenging learning experiences that extend each student. I offer constructive feedback encouraging students to reflect on their learning and work towards individual growth and improvement.
Learning is lifelong. My role is to awaken curiosity, spark passion, build confidence, teach responsibility, promote reflection and kindle a lifelong love of learning. My lessons equip students with a toolkit of skills that they can use throughout their lives to learn independently.
Learning extends beyond the classroom. I make learning relevant and authentic by connecting what we are doing in the classroom with the real world and with the lives of my students. I actively support the co-curricular programs of the school, recognising the important role they play in developing the whole child and promoting balance. These activities enable me to get to know students in a different setting and share my own interests and passions beyond the curriculum.