Secondary School,
New South Wales
Meet David, a secondary school teacher from NSW with 17 years of teaching experience. Learn about what inspired David to get into teaching, his stand out teaching moment and advice he gives to anyone considering a career in teaching.
What inspired you to get into teaching?
I was inspired to pursue teaching because I believe that to work with students is to work with our next generation of change agents. These young people have perspectives, talents and values that will shape our future, and I want to help advocate for their voices to be heard each day. I also believe in the power of lifelong learning. To be a teacher is to recognise that you need to upskill yourself every day to stay current and have an educational impact on our students. My philosophy on this is, quite simply, that my students are the best resource I have for lifelong learning. They teach me something new each day, making me question my own ideals and perspectives, and reflect on how I might best serve their needs.
Why do you teach?
Teachers are powerful advocates for students and their thinking. For students to achieve, they need to know that they have strong supporters that will both challenge and encourage them to be the very best person that they can be. I teach because I know that each student counts. My goal as a teacher is to empower students on their journeys of personal and academic growth, to create a safe space where each individual student feels like they are an authentic part of a diverse collective community.
What’s your stand out/most memorable teaching moment?
In 2020, I taught a class of Year 12 students during the COVID-19 lockdowns and home learning. These students were engaged in major projects and were significantly disadvantaged due to the limited access they had to necessary technologies, filming locations and general project motivation. An adaptation to a complete online mode in the face of challenge was the only acceptable response and to do this the students needed guidance. I ran online project group meetings, engaged them in webinars with creative colleges to continue their practical upskilling, and ensured that their continued project development was managed with a lens of wellbeing. They needed to know that they could achieve and could succeed despite unprecedented challenge. That year we received the highest marks our college had ever received for HSC Multimedia, with 4 major award nominations from senior markers and an above state average performance shift in the course.
What is your advice for new teachers or people considering a career in teaching?
When you become a teacher, you enter a world beyond work. It’s an investment in people, their stories, and the future of our nation. You are stepping into an industry where no two days are alike, because you are interacting with individuals who have their own complexity, challenges and successes. You get to become a part of a community, sharing identity and culture with a variety of stakeholders, including students, colleagues, parents and school partners. Teaching is rewarding and enriching work.
