Lewis Pickford

For the past academic year, I have had the opportunity to live and work in Australia as a supply teacher in the south-east suburbs of Melbourne, teaching across more than eight different schools from Year 1 to Year 6. This experience allowed me to quickly adapt to new teaching environments, develop a flexible approach to lesson planning and classroom management, and tailor my teaching methods to suit the unique needs of each classroom while building positive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds. My exposure to different curricula enhanced my ability to navigate varied educational settings and provide consistent, high-quality learning experiences. Due to my strong teaching performance and ability to engage with students, I was approached by the headmaster of Springvale Rise Primary School to take on a full-time role within their Year 5/6 team, where I played a key role in delivering high-quality education during Term 4. My ability to quickly build rapport with students and foster an inclusive, supportive learning environment led to a contract extension for the first term of 2025. This experience has been instrumental in refining my teaching skills, broadening my understanding of curriculum differences, and equipping me with a diverse range of pedagogical strategies. Additionally, I honed my classroom management techniques to effectively engage students of varying abilities and backgrounds while maintaining a positive and productive atmosphere. Working in such a dynamic and multicultural environment has strengthened my ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, understand their individual learning needs, and support both their academic and personal development. These skills, combined with adaptability, strong communication, and team collaboration, are essential for creating an environment where students feel motivated, safe, and supported.

As a coach, my primary focus was to support and develop children's sporting abilities, ensuring that every child had the opportunity to progress at their own pace. Through this, I honed my ability to create engaging, adaptable activities that catered to different skill levels and learning styles—skills that directly translate to creating differentiated lesson plans as a teacher. I also prioritized the development of key lifelong skills in students, such as teamwork, communication, and resilience, which are essential in both sports and the classroom. As I progressed to head coach, my responsibilities expanded beyond direct coaching to include managing a staff team and collaborating closely with parents, strengthening my leadership, organizational, and time management skills—vital qualities in a teaching role. I learned to balance multiple priorities while maintaining a positive and focused environment, and these experiences provided a clear foundation for my decision to pursue a career in teaching. The organizational skills I developed as a head coach such as planning, coordinating, and multitasking are critical to managing a classroom effectively, while my ability to collaborate within a team to achieve common goals has prepared me to work alongside colleagues and support staff to create a positive and productive learning environment. My passion for nurturing children's growth, both academically and personally, fuels my dedication to teaching, and I am eager to transfer these strengths into the classroom.