The Teacher Feature

Kylie White

Role: Grade 5 Teacher

Kylie has been at BBPS since 2010!

How would you describe your teaching philosophy in a few sentences?

I believe all students can succeed when they feel supported, challenged and known as individuals. My teaching is grounded in explicit instruction, strong relationships and high expectations, while also creating opportunities for students to think deeply, collaborate and build confidence in their learning. I value working closely with families and using evidence informed practices to ensure every student can make growth from their own starting point.

How do you continue to grow and develop as an educator?

I continually reflect on my teaching practice through student data, feedback, collaboration with colleagues and professional learning opportunities. I enjoy engaging with current educational research, particularly around explicit instruction, worked examples and student wellbeing and I regularly trial new strategies in the classroom to evaluate their impact on student learning. I also challenge myself through further learning opportunities, such as completing the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Teaching Excellence Program last year. Leadership opportunities, mentoring student teachers and working alongside colleagues also help me continue to refine my practice.

What is one thing you wish families knew more about teaching and learning?

Learning is not always quick or linear, and mistakes are an important part of growth. Confidence often develops after students experience challenge, practise skills repeatedly and receive feedback over time. The most powerful outcomes happen when schools and families work together to encourage resilience, consistency, curiosity and a positive attitude towards learning.

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Role: Education Support

What inspired you to become a teacher / education support person? 

My son is my inspiration. As a parent of a child with Dyslexia/SLD I upskilled to assist in his early childhood intervention (alongside his allied health team). Once he entered high school I decided to return to the workforce. The progress he made and the passion I had for tutoring steered me onto the path of education, applying at BBPS for a position as Educational Support. I love what I do, it’s so rewarding.

What do you believe makes an effective learning environment for students? 

For any learning environment to be effective, students need to be engaged. That engagement is only possible when teachers have established trust, mutual respect, active listening, fairness, professionalism, and a non-judgmental approach before any learning takes place.

Three words to describe that feeling when you’re delivering a lesson and nailing it. 

Whether you’re teaching in an extension group or support class when a student has that “a-ha moment”, my natural response is fist pump, with my head is saying “They’ve got it”. It’s usually smiles all round!

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Role: Education Support

What inspired you to work as an Education Support?

I have always had a passion for supporting young people, especially those with disabilities. If students can thrive in school, it sets them up to make social connections, play community sport, and be part of a community. 

How do you support individual students with different learning needs to achieve their best and make classrooms more inclusive?

Being neurodiverse & living with a physical disability myself, I can put myself into the students' shoes and help them work out challenges or help them remember what they need to get for the lesson! I love getting to know little things about the kids in the classrooms I work in and then them being so excited to tell me something when they see me.  I am the voice for some of our students, helping them create connections and share if they need something changed so it works better for them. 

What do you love most about working at BBPS?

What I love most about working at BBPS is getting to spend my day across different areas of the school. Creating community through the school, that I feel a part of. I really love working in the library when I'm not in the classroom.