The Mortar Board
Alumni E-Newsletter: October 2012

From the school of hard knocks, a teacher’s tale

I am a mum! My eldest son was diagnosed with several minor conditions which came together to create a learning disability. At about 18 months of age we began to access various support services to help him develop. I became involved in a steering committee to create an Early Intervention Program in the Byron Bay area after my son was attending one in Glen Innes. It was then I became interested in teaching as I wanted to do something to help those children in need. I put the ‘dream' on the back burner for a while as my husband's job was transferable and my children (I had another son and a daughter on the way) were still small. We eventually moved to Bundaberg and my son started school. It was then I saw an opportunity to realise my dream. I asked my son's teacher how I should go about accessing a teaching degree and she recommended the STEPs program at the local university. Not long after that I contacted the Central Queensland University and Karen Seary who ran the program. I found out I had to sit a test to enter the program; this was a very nervous time for me as I hadn't sat for an exam since completing Year 12 (16 years earlier). Fortunately the STEPs program accepted me.

After completing the course I applied and was accepted into the Bachelor of Learning Management - Early Childhood at the Bundaberg Central Queensland University campus. This was the beginning of a personal growth I could not have expected. Over the coming years I became a more confident and assertive student (although I had a long way to go). Each time my confidence wavered, the team of Lecturers and Tutors in the Education Faculty would also ‘kick my butt' and remind me to stay positive and that ‘I could do it'.  I developed communication skills I never knew I had.

On graduating I received an S2 rating as a teacher; although I was disappointed I was determined not to let this stand in my way of teaching. I applied to be available as a supply teacher until I could find a way to become the S1 teacher I knew I was. I left my resume at every school in the Bundaberg area and made an appointment with all the principals to introduce myself. Within the first week of school in 2005 I received my first call to work; after that I never turned down a day's work. I even took work in the high schools which were out of my comfort zone.

To further increase my opportunities I volunteered at my children's school in various ways. I also asked various teachers if I could come to their classroom to ‘teach' some classes to improve my skills in the higher year levels as I had not had a practicum in any of the upper levels of the primary school. This occurred on a regular basis.  The teachers in this school became my mentors.

I worked as a supply teacher for two years and during that second year I was offered a contract which was initially for only a short time but then became a six month contract. During this time I asked to be reassessed and was successful in attaining an S1 rating. I continued to be offered regular supply work in 2007. During the last week of the first term I was offered not only one but two fulltime positions. I accepted a position in a Special Education Unit on a trial basis for term two (this was to see if the position and I ‘fit' each other). I had one week to organise myself and move to my new town. My daughter came with me whilst my sons stayed with my husband in Bundaberg until we knew the position would become permanent. I started on the 16^th April and was made permanent on the 21^st May.  

The first three terms of my teaching career were up and down but I was supported by a fabulous team of teachers. The following year I was put on class and was able to see my dream come alive through the opportunity to practise inclusivity in the classroom. I developed my skills and was able to again follow that dream the following year. I knew then that it was in the classroom that I was showing strength and that inclusivity was a passion for me.

It was in 2010 when everything came to a halt. I was diagnosed with a 3cm brain tumour behind the right eye after suffering a seizure.

To describe the feeling as shock would be an understatement.  I had not been listening to my body. I was worried for my family and yes I was scared I would not have the opportunity to see my children grow up.  On the 19^th March 2010 I underwent brain surgery to have the tumour removed. I felt lucky to be alive but I felt my dreams were coming to an end as I did not know what the outcome of the surgery would be.  I was to be one of the lucky ones; it was a meningioma. I worked hard on getting well and returning to work. This took six months (in hindsight though I should have taken the year). I was back working fulltime in the October.

Since then I have had three student teachers who I have encouraged to be positive and never to give up as we all meet our challenges and it is those challenges which make us stronger.

Through sheer determination I have achieved my dream to become a teacher. The challenges which came my way made me stronger and more determined to realise my dream.