Our Classrom Teachers

Hi Ivanhoe Primary School Community,

Hello! 

I’m Jo Kittler and am proud to say I have been part of the IPS community since completing teaching rounds here in 2004. After that, I became a permanent member of staff in 2005 and have had a wealth of experience throughout the school from Foundation Team Leader, Year 1 teacher, Support, Art, Drama and I also set up the Peer Leading Program. I am currently working with the amazing Jo Harford in Year 3. I was a full-time member of staff until having my own gorgeous children currently at IPS in Year 4 and Year 6. Now I am lucky enough to hold a part time position and have worked with fabulous teachers such as Maria Nedelkovski, Hannah Crowley and Jo Harford. 

I absolutely love teaching; I am extremely passionate about education and have known that this would be my career path since playing ‘schools’ and organising concerts for my family with my cousins and sister when we were children. Seeing my students challenge themselves and gain those ‘a-ha’ moments is what I strive to achieve in my classroom.  I am so lucky to be working in such a dynamic and supportive team in Year 3 who always put the needs of our students first, continually share ideas and learn from each other. 

Before teaching in schools in Australia I taught drama at a private drama school in the UK, where I am originally from, and also worked in global custody banking at JPMorgan. I met my Australian husband while he was travelling around the UK and came over to Melbourne to ‘see how things go’. I have now lived in Australia for half my life and am happy to call Melbourne my second home. Apart from raising my children and ferrying them to various events, you’ll find me reading, cooking, playing netball, going to musicals, shopping and planning my next family adventure!

Hi, my name is Kaye Herd-currently teaching in Year 3, a fabulous year level. I love teaching these bright, energetic, and curious young minds.

I have been associated with Ivanhoe Primary School for a very long time, more than 18 years. Many of you may have seen me in the yard or have had children in my classes over the years. 

There’s a simple reason why I’ve been at IPS for so many years. It’s because I believe it’s the best school. Caring families, conscientious students, and a workplace with positive values. My own children started here in the 90’s and all 3 are now independent, confident young adults.  I also have a neice who is appearing in The Wizard of Oz.  Look out for the poster on the community page of this newsletter!

During my spare time you’ll see me at home in the garden, swimming or restoring furniture. I like to travel, entertain friends/family, and visit wonderful brunch places in Melbourne. 

My name is Steven O’Callaghan, and I am the Year three team leader, Leading Teaching for Assessment and Reporting, and the Digital Technologies curriculum coordinator. 

I have just this term notched up nine very happy years of teaching at Ivanhoe Primary School. I first made my appearance here as a casual relief teacher in 2014, fresh off the plane from the UK, having emigrated here to be with my ‘Aussie’ partner Lucy, who is also a teacher. 

This is my now my fifth year working with the fantastic Year Three team, but before that I taught in Year One and Two.

Before training to become a teacher, I studied mechanical engineering as I had interest in Physics, Mathematics and design, but it was before completing my degree that I realised that teaching was where my interests and skills lay. The attraction of teaching for me was the opportunity to be able to give back to a career that trained those who helped make me the person I am and for me to pay it forward for future generations of students. I too want to help students in their journey to becoming the best versions of themselves and hopefully instil in them a lifelong love of learning along the way. 

I live in Reservoir with my lovely partner, Lucy, and my daughter, Ida, who recently turned five and has started primary school this year. We are due to welcome a new addition to the family at the end of next month and we are all very excited at her impending arrival.

Outside of school, I love football (I still struggle to call it soccer after all my years of living here) and as my students will attest, I am a massive fan of Burnley FC. I also love reading, cinema, cooking and travel. 

Please feel free to come and say hello if you see me in the yard.

Hi,

 I’m Jo Harford and I work 3 days a week at IPS. One day a week in a Support Teaching role and two days a week in 3J (team teaching with the wonderful Mrs Kittler.)

I started in a full- time role at IPS in 2008 in a Year 5 class. The students at IPS made such a wonderful first impression on me. I was struck by their fantastic work ethic and deep level of thinking. 

I love building connections with my students and believe that when students feel seen, supported and cared for, they do their best learning.  While at IPS I have also worked on projects at the Victorian Curriculum & Assessment Authority.  I have worked as a Lead Marker for NAPLAN over many years and have also developed content for online assessment programs for Literacy. This project work has been great professional development and I believe has really enhanced my teaching.

IPS is filled with amazing staff and many of my colleagues have become some of my close friends. My colleagues are very supportive of each other and I feel very lucky to be part of both the Support Team and Year 3 Team. 

Outside of teaching I love spending time in my garden and also love getting away and hiking or body boarding with my family and friends. 

I work at IPS on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and can be contacted on:

Joanne.harford@edcation.vic.gov.au

Hi, my name is Fiona Millar,

 I have been teaching since 2000. I have taught in Tasmania, England, Queensland, New Zealand and of course Victoria, both as a classroom teacher and a relief teacher of ages ranging from 4 years old to 16 years old. I started teaching at I.P.S. in 2006 as a relief teacher, and was so impressed at the beautiful behaviour of the students and their desire to learn. In 2007, I was fortunate to be employed full time at Ivanhoe Primary School. 

From 2007 to 2021, I taught Years 4 & 5. I have also been involved in supporting Jo Kittler setting up the Peer-Leaders Program, back in 2008 and from 2011 to 2021 I was the Peer-Leader Co-ordinator. 

Half-way through 2021, I returned to Tasmania due to family commitments. This year I returned to Ivanhoe Primary School, and continued my role as an Environmental Co-ordinator, a job which I have a strong passion for. I am still blown away by the kindness and academic drive of Ivanhoe Primary School students. I must admit I really missed this school community, and visits from my wonderful past students, who pop in every now and again to let me know how life is treating them. As you could probably tell with my teaching experience, I have taught in a LOT of diverse school environments and Ivanhoe Primary School is a unique school where the community comes together to bring out the best in everyone. 

I believe I teach from the heart. I want to help all students see and value diversity, along with what they can truly achieve academically, socially and emotionally. This drive comes from my own experiences, and the negative impacts that overcoming my own learning difficulties throughout my childhood and early adulthood had on me. I am very passionate about helping students understand that although at times things may be hard, with determination, time, a growth mind set and a bounce back attitude, we can all achieve. 

My partner is French and I am very fortunate to head there semi regularly, so he can catch up with family and friends. I am continuing to learn French, but am still at a very basic level! In my spare time, I enjoy pottering in the garden and exploring the outdoors. I am also a passionate dancer, not that I have been very active of late, and I pride myself in having a continual curiosity about the world around me.