Joanna has been teaching since 2012, starting her career in New South Wales before moving to Victoria in 2013. She joined Hume Anglican Grammar's Donnybrook campus at the beginning of 2023, initially working as a specialist teacher, covering various subjects and providing release time. This year, Jo has enjoyed the role of Homeroom teacher for Year 5Z. She is passionate about teaching mathematics and writing, with a focus on helping her students overcome any barriers or anxieties they may face in these subjects.

Next year, Joanna will tackle a new role as the Head of eLearning (Cross-campus).

What do you like most about working at Hume Anglican Grammar?
The people. The staff are all incredibly welcoming and the students are so lovely. 

What does a typical day in the office look like for you? 
A typical day in my teaching role is arriving each day after dropping my daughter at daycare, getting a coffee and ensuring I am prepared for each day. It is important for me to greet my grade with a smile and a warm welcome, this sets the tone for a positive start to the day. 

Throughout the day my role entails ensuring my students are equipped to meet the learning outcomes as well as supporting their social and emotional growth as well as looking out for their wellbeing. 

I genuinely enjoy coming to work each day and seeing what can be achieved.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career and why?
I have several of my own teachers who have inspired me throughout my career. From my time in High School in Canada when two teachers, Mrs Beckley and Mr Colquhoun inspired me to want to be a teacher like they were. Fun, caring and passionate about what they taught. My most recent inspiration was my very first mentor teacher, Vivienne Reilly, who guided me through my placement days as a learning teacher giving me words of wisdom and advice that I still use to guide my practise and mindset daily.

Fast Four:

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
I would love to have dinner with the hosts of No Such Thing as a Fish podcast. It is one of my favourite podcasts to listen to, filled with great snippets of information and humour. It’s easy listening and for my enjoyment of learning new facts it’s perfect. I think the dinner would be so interesting and full of great discussions and thought tangents.

What is your favourite book?
As a teacher of primary students, I do try to find books that I can recommend to them to expand their reading repertoire. I really enjoy the Nevermoor Series. It is an easy and engaging read and if you love Harry Potter books, you will love this series.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
To be able to fly. The reason being is a) I have family based in Canada and the ease of being able to fly myself would be amazing just to pop in for a cuppa and b) I love to travel so to be able to do that for free would be amazing. 

If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It is hard to choose just one. I am a huge fan of Mexican cuisine and could happily eat it for the rest of my life without issue.