Specialists

Mixed Specialist: Sam McGee (Team Leader)

Hi SMPS students and families, 

My name is Miss Sam M. I will continue my role as a Mixed Specialist teacher and the Specialist Team Leader next year, which means I get to teach many students and many subjects across the school. There’s a big chance I will be teaching you at some point throughout the year! 

I have always lived in Melbourne but slowly moved towards the inner city as I grew older. Now, I live near SMPS so you might see me catching the tram or walking to school. When I’m not at school, I might be watching live music, socialising with family or friends or getting stuck into a great book. I love to go on day trips with my friends and venture overseas when I get the chance to. 

I'm excited for you to experience the interesting activities the specialist teachers have planned for you in 2026.

Have a restful and fun-filled break!

Physical Education: Ryder Smith

Hello SMPS Families,

My name is Ryder Smith, and I am fortunate enough to continue as the South Melbourne Primary School PE Teacher next year. I am now moving into my seventh full year as a teacher and my third-year teaching in Melbourne. Previously, I taught in England and then at St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Tarneit. I was a class teacher in Grades 4, 5 and 6 before moving into this specialist PE role. I have an extreme passion for PE and Sport. I studied for three years at University in Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences before moving onto my PGCE course to become a teacher. While studying at University, I was a ‘sports coach’ teaching in local Primary Schools in England. 

As a PE Teacher there is no surprise that I am completely mad about Sport! I love watching and playing all types of sports and my favourites include football (soccer), cricket, and rugby league. My favourite team is Liverpool F.C., and you can usually hear me cheering them on from somewhere in Melbourne! My other interests include travelling to different countries, spending time with my partner and friends, and attempting to find the best restaurants in Melbourne.

I am looking forward to starting the new year at South Melbourne Primary School and continuing to develop our students' skills and knowledge of PE and sport. It has been such a pleasure to work with them this past year, and I cannot wait to see what the new academic year will bring.

Music: Paul Creasey

Hello awesome SMPS families, I am Mr. Paul. I am the South Melbourne Primary School Music Teacher. This will be my eighth year at SMPS. I started teaching at our school when it first opened at the beginning of 2018. It has been an amazing journey being part of the SMPS team. The staff, students and families at our magnificent school are what make it so great!

I am very much looking forward to continuing to work in the Music Room and to futher develop our Music Program in 2026.

Visual Arts: Phoebe Katos

Hello South Melbourne Primary School community! 

I could not be more excited to continue being the Visual Arts teacher at our fantastic school next year! I grew up in Geelong but have always wanted to move up to the big city and now live in Fitzroy. I love to cook, travel and paint. Painting is my favourite style of visual art because even when it doesn’t turn out how you thought, it can end up even better! 

I am lucky to have always known I’ve wanted to be a teacher and always had a passion for art. I can’t wait to help inspire the students of SMPS to be creative, imaginative and innovative, and we will all learn and grow together.  

Mandarin: Sam Kong

Hello SMPS students and families! 

My name is Miss Sam, and I will be teaching Mandarin in 2026! This will be my seventh year in teaching. I am so excited to bring back Mandarin to SMPS!

I grew up in Malaysia and spent most of my childhood travelling with my family before moving to Melbourne in 2013. I fell in love with Melbourne because of its multiculturalism, excellent coffee and awesome arts and culture scene, so I decided to stay.

Before I became a teacher, I worked as a social media manager at a media outlet and that was when I realised my calling, which was to be a teacher. I have never looked back ever since.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my friends, eating delicious food, watching anime and reading books. 

I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family next year.

Intervention/Mixed Specialist: Niamh Shaughnessy

Hello SMPS Families,

My name is Niamh Shaughnessy, and I am thrilled to be joining SMPS as an intervention and mixed specialist teacher for 2026! In this role, I look forward to working with students across various year groups to support their learning and help them grow. 

With eleven years of teaching experience, I am excited to continue my journey here at SMPS. Last year, I had the pleasure of working as an intervention teacher, which allowed me to get to know many of the wonderful children and families in our school community.

I grew up in the west of Ireland with my mum, dad, brother, and sister. My childhood was filled with outdoor adventures – from playing sports to swimming in our local lake and walking my beloved pet dog, Rusty! I moved to Abu Dhabi for my first teaching role, and since then, I have taught in London and now Melbourne. Travel is one of my greatest passions, and I particularly enjoy learning about different cultures around the world.

Outside of school, I enjoy staying active and healthy. You’ll often find me running around the Tan or Albert Park Lake, attending yoga classes, or hiking through nature. I am also excited to explore more of Victoria’s beautiful camping spots!

I hope you all have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to working with you in the New Year!