Our Classroom Teachers

Hi Ivanhoe Primary,

Hello IPS!

My name is Miranda Stott and I have been teaching at Ivanhoe Primary School since 2006. I started off at Ivanhoe as a graduate teacher and have been fortunate enough over my years to teach in every year level of the school, both in the classroom and in specialist and support program roles. For a period of time I worked part time, dedicating the rest of my time to raising my 3 beautiful children, two of them are current students at IPS. Whilst on maternity leave, I used that opportunity to explore and teach at different schools within Melbourne, to expand my teaching experiences. During covid my family relocated to Tasmania for 14 months, where I taught in several schools in Hobart. At the beginning of 2022 we returned to IPS. I am so grateful to teach at IPS and have my children attend such a wonderful school.

Currently I am working in the awesome year 5 team! I feel so fortunate to work with like-minded, supportive colleagues who put the needs of our student’s first. We collaborate and bounce off each other to produce the best teaching practices we possibly can to ensure our students love coming to school. 

Prior to teaching I have a background in business, marketing. I am so grateful that I made the decision to move into teaching as it is so rewarding. What I love the most about teaching is the ‘ah ha’ moments I get to witness and share with my students. There is nothing more authentic, rewarding and heart warming than seeing kids click and advance their skills, especially in areas that they feel challenged in. I treasure the connections I make with my students and being able support them in achieving their best in a safe and comfortable learning environment.

Outside of teaching, I am a busy mum to 3 kids, (3 years, 7 years and 10 years old). I coach my 7 years olds basketball team, GO KNIGHTS, and I am involved in my son’s local footy team, Ivanhoe Junior. I play netball, enjoy going on walks and I love, when I get a moment, to spend time with family and friends.

I feel so lucky to teach at such an awesome school but also to be a part of the amazing Ivanhoe Primary School parent community.

Hello IPS community, my name is Kieran McKissack. ,

This is my second full year working at Ivanhoe Primary School, and it has been a fantastic experience! I have been around IPS for much longer though as I completed my teacher training here and was previously a casual teacher for several years before landing my full-time role. It has felt like I have always been a part of the furniture at IPS over the course of my career! 

Currently I am working with the fantastic Grade 5 team and have helped create and implement dynamic and engaging learning opportunities for our students. I pride myself on knowing my students and their learning needs, and always aim to ensure they are supported and challenged in all areas to help prepare them for Grade 6 and beyond. 

I love the everyday challenge of teaching, and the on-your-feet thinking that is needed to tackle all manner of different situations we are faced with. Setting high expectations for my students and helping them to become more confident and expressive is a responsibility I enjoy, while having a real impact on the learning of all the students I teach. 

Outside of my experience at IPS, I have lived and worked in the United Kingdom before I became a teacher in Australia, and I have a love for travel and music which has taken me to many different countries around the world. I have worked at multiple schools all around Melbourne in both Primary and Secondary roles as both a classroom and physical education teacher.  

It is a pleasure working here at Ivanhoe Primary School, and I look forward to meeting the community over the course of the year and in the future.  

Hello everyone in the IPS community, my name is Leigh Morrison.

I am extremely fortunate to have a long association with the beautiful Ivanhoe area for most of my life. My father was a prominent architect in the area, having designed many schools and churches, along with having served on Heidelberg Council. 

When returning with my family to live in Ivanhoe in 2007 our daughters attended Ivanhoe Uniting Church Kinder, Ivanhoe Co-op and then Ivanhoe PS. Both girls are now in their senior years of Secondary School. We are very grateful to Ivanhoe PS for the excellent beginning to education our daughters received.

In 2015 I was very fortunate to be offered a teaching position at Ivanhoe PS. With a background in Special Education and Primary teaching I have loved this teaching experience, having worked with many inspirational colleagues and students over the years. Currently I am teaching in our beautiful new learning space, ‘The Beehive’. This space provides such opportunities for students to feel confident, creative and inquisitive in the senior years of primary school, thus enabling their successful transition to Secondary School. I absolutely love teaching here!

When asked what I love about teaching I always reply with ‘EVERYTHING’. Every day is different, presenting itself with surprises and challenges. Teaching is a perpetual process of learning, evolving and I appreciate the joy and growth it brings. 

Outside of my role at Ivanhoe PS I love to participate in my weekly dance and Pilates classes, along with spending time with my family exploring our new home neighbourhood near the city. I also love to travel and am always planning our next family adventure!