...the Dedication COURTNEY DIBBEN | TEACHER
GARY HAYDEN | TEACHER
ST ANTHONY’S CATHOLIC
GILROY SANTA MARIA
COLLEGE, DEERAGUN
COLLEGE, INGHAM
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A TEACHER?
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A TEACHER?
I chose to become a teacher because it has
I come from a family of Catholic educators
always been a dream of mine. However,
and the decision to teach was made
I found myself in a career in radio for the
early. Initially, I combined my love of sport
decade after school. Following the birth
with teaching/coaching. At university,
of my first daughter, my desire to help
I combined my studies of human
children and make a difference in their
bioscience with teacher education.
lives was stronger than ever and I started
WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
my degree when she was four months old. Skip forward four years; another daughter
When the students say ‘thank you’ at
(born mid-semester), and it is one of the
WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT LIKE?
decisions I am most proud of in my life.
The Catholic school environment is unlike
WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
any I have experienced previously in that
As you can probably imagine from my
with an incredible group of teachers at
previous answer, the thing I love most
St Anthony's Catholic College for whom
about my job is having the chance to work
the needs of children, families, and the
with children. Teaching is one of those
community is central to their practice.
completely dynamic careers where no
Everyday I witness teachers volunteering,
two days are the same and you never
in their own time, to run school sports
know what you are going to get when you
and music programs, provide additional
walk through the doors of the classroom.
tutoring to students, meet with families
I have heard about family pets having
and rally involvement in community events
babies, sporting triumphs, loss of family
like the Townsville to Cairns bike ride
members, holidays, birthday parties and
or Clean Up Australia Day. Every one of
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A TEACHER?
a student who swam through a croc-
my colleagues serves the students and
My ultimate goal as a teacher is that Holy
infested swamp to look for his pet dog
broader community tirelessly and it makes
Grail of teaching – the perfect lesson.
(he survived the swim and found her,
me so proud to be a small part of it.
thankfully). To quote Rita Pierson (who was quoting James Comer) "no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship" and that is why being able to build these bonds with my students is paramount to the joy I find in my profession.
service is at the very heart of it. I work
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A TEACHER? My goal as a teacher is to provide for my students the kind of teacher I would love for my daughters to have. Someone who supports them to achieve their best and be themselves at a time when that is a
DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A TEACHER IN 5 WORDS.
scary thing to do. If I can foster self-belief,
Ms Norbury (Mean Girls) meets Ms Frizzle.
then I feel like I have done my job.
10
confidence and compassion in my students,
the end of a lesson they enjoyed. DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A TEACHER IN 5 WORDS. In awe of other teachers. WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT LIKE? I have worked at Gilroy Santa Maria College in Ingham since 1995 and have witnessed firsthand the benefits of a safe and welcoming school environment that combines the values of the Catholic church with excellent educational opportunities.
