The Education Support staff member at Banmira Specialist School has been awaiting a phone call from the Victorian Institute of Teaching for some time now, which will grant her permission to teach during her third year of university.
“It’s taking forever,” she said.
Still, it’s not as long as her career trajectory.
In 2022, Clarise completed a 12-month traineeship at Banmira before pursuing a Bachelor of Secondary Education at La Trobe University.
“I moved to Bendigo for university, and then six months later, I ended up coming back to the school mid-winter break as an ES,” she said.
“I’ve been an ES for the upper middle students ever since.”
Clarise is the first and last person many students see when they step off the buses that roll in at 9am each morning and disperse at 3pm each afternoon.
During those hours, she supports the students through each lesson, using techniques like repetition, reward systems, and tapping into common interests.
Sometimes, the latter can be as simple as having a conversation about cats.
“Because I have a rescue dog at home, I connected with one of our students who recently adopted rescue cats,” Clarise said.
“Any time he was cranky or didn’t want to be inside, I’d say, ‘Hey, how’s that cat doing?’ and his mind would just switch.
“We’d start talking about his cats and what they’ve been doing, and then I’d be able to get him back inside and be like, ‘Okay, how about you do this worksheet now?’
“Every kid learns differently – to be able to differentiate their learning, cater to each of their needs, and see them grow is so rewarding.”
Given Clarise’s breadth of experience in the school environment, the door to teaching will soon open, and she will confidently step into the role.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and I’m excited for all that comes with it,” she said.
“I don't know how I’ll celebrate, but I’ll be very happy – having my own classroom will be nice, too.”
Perhaps an apple will even be placed on the new teacher’s desk.
– Taylah Baker
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