Staff in the Spotlight

Sub School Staff in the Spotlight 

Throughout term 2 and 3 we will be spotlighting our Middle and Senior Sub School Teams giving our school community the opportunity to find out more about who they are, why they became a teacher/leader and what they love most about their jobs!

This week we are spotlighting Jessie Denison.

Jessie is part of our Senior School Team and is one of our Careers Practitioners. She is a highly valued member of the team and integral in helping students make informed choices about which subjects they should choose and what pathways they can navigate at school and beyond. As a Maths teacher, Jessie is an expert in teaching students at their point of need and guiding students to not only love maths, but to excel! 

How long have you been teaching?

About 13 years, with some travelling and family leave tucked in between the years.

What is your role in Sub School?

Careers Practitioner

Why did you decide to become a teacher and/or leader?

My subject areas are Maths & Outdoor Education - I found myself really missing them both once I finished high school, especially the connections that I made with people in the classroom and the outdoors.  I've always loved helping other people, especially with them understanding something they had previously found challenging so Maths was a no-brainer! As for Careers, I love working with senior students and being able to help them navigate their next step forward felt like the right progression in my own career.

What is the best thing about teaching and/or working in the subschool team?

The relationships that I form with both my colleagues and my students.  Working in subschool, we are so privileged that we get to know our students on a different level, and being able to do that with a large number of students is great!   We also form really close relationships with the staff that we work with as it can be quite stressful and challenging at times, so it's great to have such a good support network.

What has been one of your best teaching moments?

I can't pinpoint a specific moment, but my highlight of teaching is when something just "clicks" for a student, especially after they've been having a lot of trouble or had previously put a wall up.  I love seeing how proud students can feel of themselves in this moment!

What are three things your colleagues and/or your students would say about you?

I'm friendly; good at explaining and helping students to understand in different ways; and that I bake nice cupcakes!

What is the weirdest or strangest thing that has happened to you?

When I was 21, I went on a trip to the USA.  Pure coincidence, it turned out that my friend who I went to kindergarten with was on the same Contiki tour!  We've stayed in touch and become really good friends since then.

What is your idea of a perfect weekend?

Socialising with friends on a Friday night with some good food.  Sleeping in on Saturday morning (maybe with some breakfast in bed!). Doing something fun with my kids on Saturday afternoon, like bowling or mini golf, followed by some take away & a movie at home or the drive-ins on Saturday night.  Taking my dog to the beach on Sunday morning then having lunch with more family, before binge-watching some TV on Sunday night!

If you could invite 5 people to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?

My Pop who I never got the chance to meet, as well as my Gran, Auntie Jude & Uncle Harvey, who we lost when I was quite young. My Mum would also join us - I'd just love to be in the same room with them all, get the chance to know them and also know how much it would mean to my mum.

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

Set goals, small and large, and keep chipping away at them.  Having something to work towards is such a great motivator and the success of achieving goals is just the most amazing feeling!