Staff in the Spotlight

With so many staff joining our team this year, we would like to give our school community the opportunity to get to know our new teachers in a fun way. Each week we will be spotlighting a new staff member and sharing with you all sorts of fun and interesting stories about who they are and most importantly, why they became a teacher and what they love most about teaching! 

This week we are spotlighting Trevor Bergshoeff who is one of our English Teachers.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been teaching for about 6 or 7 years. 

What school/university or organisation have you come from?

I studied at Deakin University. 

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I became a teacher because I wanted to help people, had a love for reading and writing, and thought it would be fun. 

What do you love most about teaching?

I love digging deep into philosophical, political, and personal interpretations and implications of texts, and bantering back and forth with students I've developed rapport with.

What has been one of your best teaching moments?

I had a year 11 class in 2022 made up of mostly students that I taught once or twice before, and we all got on like a house on fire. We had so much fun digging into texts, having debates, going off on related and unrelated tangents. At the end of the year, one of the students shared that I changed his perspective. He previously thought that teachers were "like robots" and never bothered to really get to them. He said I taught him that teachers are people too, but importantly, that I inspired him to push himself and do his best. I think as teachers we all live for those moments. 

Where's your favourite holiday destination?

Of the places I've been to, Vietnam. Though, I would love to go to exploring the Nordic countries, as I love the landscapes, and camp out to see the Aurora Borealis.

What tv show/series did you last binge watch?

Haven't been watching a lot of T.V lately, but I think it was 'Is it Cake?'

If you could wear Harry's invisibility cloak for one day, where would you go and what would you do?

I feel like humans simultaneously want to be noticed, and unnoticed. We want companionship and individual freedom. I feel like the latter is harder to get than the former; we're always in some sort of community, no matter the size. Having complete invisibility would free us to just BE for a time. If I had Harry's invisibility cloak for a day I would just observe. Go into the city, and or a shopping centre and just watch the people and observe the emerging patterns and think about our lives. I would also just stop. Take my time just enjoying and soaking in the little things that we're all too busy to notice; the shifting clouds, the flowers, the stars. I'm also curious to see what my dogs do all day when we're not around. 

What is the one piece of 'advice' or the one thing that you always say to your students?

Always be inquisitive; question everything.