Sarah Boski
12 Willandra St Seaford Heights,SA
Summary
I completed a four year Bachelor of Education degree majoring in primary teaching at Avondale College (a private University) in 2002. In 2003 I worked in Uganda with an organisation known as the Ugandan Australian Foundation. Duties included teaching lower and middle primary, teacher training, school administration and coordinating the School Sponsorship Program for over 3,000 students. When I returned to NSW in 2004 I was employed at Dunmore Lang Christian School as the sole full-time teacher teaching Kindergarten to Year Six as a single group 2 days a week and then for 3 days a week the classes split and taught the lower primary grades. In 2007, taught taught casually and worked with New Hope International (still assisting them), training teachers in third world countries. Since 2008 I have worked with 2 organisations to implement a program funded by the Federal Government to provide support for children with additional needs to the Childcare and OSHC Services to support the inclusion of children with disabilities or those from Cultural and linguistic diverse backgrounds. I worked for Inclusive Directions in Adelaide for 12 months and now with KU Inclusion Support Agency in NSW in this role. I spent time working with the staff, children and networking with various other services to assist in the inclusion of children (predominantly 0 to 8 years) in these settings. From 2010 to December 2012 I was working with ESL children in a remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory. I started as a Classroom teacher and then was appointed as the Language and Culture Coordinator and Second in charge. In June 2012, took took on a Principal role for 6 months. Since having getting married and having children I have been doing a small amount of TRT teaching, mainly at Southern Vales CC Aldinga. Over the last 3 years I have been on contract at Southern Vales as a Primary Classroom Teacher.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Classroom Teacher / TRT Teaching
Southern Vales Christian College
Aldinga, Australia
07.2017 - Current
- Classroom Teaching.
- Participating and teaching the various programs run at the school.
- Assisting in various activities within the College.
Wife and Mum
Home
2013 - Current
- At home caring for my 3 children.
Acting Principal
Willowra School
05.2012 - 01.2013
- Leading a team of Indigenous and non-indigenous staff to ensure the delivery of quality education.
- Ensuring the smooth running of the school – including all school admin work.
- Covering teacher release time.
- Working with other consultants outside the school to assist with the development of the school curriculum and support of students.
- Language and Culture Coordinator and Teacher.
- Using Databases to enter information about children.
Deputy Principal
Willowra School
02.2010 - 06.2012
- Coordinating the Warlpiri Language and Culture Program.
- Assisting the Indigenous staff in the delivery and planning of the Language and Culture training.
- Providing professional development to the teachers and Indigenous staff.
- Teaching English for Yr 2, 3, 4 and covered the teacher release time on various classes.
- Developed a reading program for all grades.
- Conducted the First Steps Numeracy training and the implementation of the program at the school.
- Writing ILP for a variety of children for additional needs, learning and social and emotional difficulties.
- Coordinating team of Assistant teachers to make sure classes had the required support.
- Develop a range of social and emotional strategies for teachers to use in the classroom to assist with behavioural difficulties.
- Assisted teachers in their pedagogy, programing and classroom teaching practice.
Teacher
Willowra School
01.2010 - 12.2010
- I worked in a remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory as a Primary School Teacher.
- I taught Transition to Year 2 and Year 3 and 4 with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
- Responsibilities include: Teaching all subjects areas to a range of age groups.
- Teaching composite classes.
- Developing the special needs program and working with Special needs support officers.
- General duties such as playground, cleaning.
- Organising and sorting resources.
- Working with assistances in the classroom.
- Programming.
Education Development Officer
New Hope International
11.2007 - 01.2010
- Assisting in the development of the lectures and teacher workbooks in the teacher training series 'Educating for Change' and understanding of what it is to be a teacher in a Christian School.
- Teaching teachers in developing countries.
- Working overseas with teachers to assist in the development of their teaching skills.
- Developing resources for the PNG outcomes based education system from a Christian perspective.
- Speaking at various churches, schools and conferences.
- Liaised with education officers in other nations about training programs and other issues.
- New Hope International is a Non government organisation set up by Rev Robert Frisken that assist teachers and Christian Schools with training and development in various Third World Nations whose second language is English.
Inclusion Support Facilitator
KU and Inclusive Directions
08.2007 - 12.2009
- Working with Children in Childcare, In Home Care, Family Day Care and OSHC Services particularly those with a disability, speech and language difficulties or from Cultural and linguistic diverse backgrounds.
- Providing support and advice to staff in regards to ideas and strategies about how to assist these children and ensure they are included in all aspects of the program.
- Implementation of ideas and strategies in the Service to build their capacity.
- Writing of plans and goals that staff would like to work towards.
- Informal training of Staff in a variety of areas such as disabilities, speech and language, Cultural understanding, programming of activities and ideas for the children and behaviour management strategies.
- Working and networking with parents and people from Autism SA, Disability SA, Speech Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and various other support networks to support the Services and the children.
- Provide specialised equipment to the Services as recommended by Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
- Working with community organisations around inclusion and participating in relevant community events.
- Working as a team to support others within the office.
- Using Databases to enter required information for the government about children and funding requirements.
- KU Inclusion Support Agency and Inclusive Directions are Non Government organisations that are supported by the Commonwealth Government to implement an Inclusion Program ensuring that children with disabilities or from Cultural and Linguistic Diverse Backgrounds are able to be provided for and included in all aspects of the program in the Service.
Casual Teaching
Various Schools
11.2007 - 01.2009
- For the period of time I was there was to take on the roles of the absent teacher on a daily bases.
Teacher
Dunmore Lang Christian School
12.2003 - 01.2007
- Employed as the only full time teacher with the assistance of a part time teacher 3 days a week for 27 students varying from k- 6.
- Responsibilities included: Teaching full time.
- Co coordinating all extra curriculum activities.
- Completing various administration tasks normally handled by office staff, Coordinators and Deputy Principals.
- Establishment of the school library.
- Developing a reading program.
- Designing school readiness program.
- Designing school reports according to the new reporting system.
- Initiated the schools inclusion in Zone and State Sports activities.
- Introduced swimming, athletics, bowls and other new activities.
- Organised and coordinated various volunteers and teachers to ensure the smooth running of the school on a daily bases.
- Pastoral Care of Students.
- Identified a number of students with learning and behavioural difficulties and successfully developed and implemented remedial programs for individual students.
- Fulfilled requests to speak at local pre schools to promote the school and inform parents about schooling for their child/ren.
- Writing all Educational Policies.
- Organising the curriculum and programming for classes and individuals.
- Leading the School though School Registration with Christian Schools Australia.
- Worked very closely with parents, churches and community members to promote and improve the standards of the school, resulting in significant school growth.
- Speaking engagements at several educational venues to present information on various aspects of education.
- Developed network contacts and relationships with teachers from local schools and Christian Schools.
- Assisted with the coordination of local schools in performances and creative arts workshops on behalf of the Upper Hunter Performing Arts group.
School Trainer / Teacher and Sponsorship Program
Ugandan Australian Foundation
12.2002 - 11.2003
- Teaching Upper and Lower Primary.
- Establishing a Resource Centre for teachers.
- Establishing a Reading Program for Lower and Middle Primary.
- Establishing a Handwriting Program Primary School.
- Remedial Programs for Maths in Upper Primary.
- Establishing a daily class devotion program and teaching Devotions to a variety of classes including an afternoon group for staff.
- Organising the annual sports day.
- Assessment and in servicing of teachers to further develop their classroom teaching skills in the Primary and Nursery Schools.
- Liaison with teachers and the Heads and Directors of ABC Primary School about the welfare of the students and special events.
- Worked closely with the Head Teacher and the Director of Studies discussing issues within the school that needed improvement and how to overcome the problem.
- Held discussions with teachers about how they could enhance their teaching and discussed with them new strategies of teaching and how to adapt them to be culturally relevant to the teaching in Uganda.
- Shared the preaching role at the Mission Church catering for the Secondary School Boarding Students with two other people.
Education
Certificate 4 in TESOL -
Insipre Education
01-2013
Bachelor of Education - Primary
Avondale College
01-2002
Skills
- Ability to work with children with additional needs
- Understanding of different cultures
- Teaching English language
- Curriculum planning
- Use of various learning styles
- Lesson planning
- Knowledge in a variety of subjects
- Explaining concepts using prior knowledge
- Behaviour management strategies
- Identifying children with difficulties
- Developing learning strategies
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Administrative skills
- Team player
- Leadership skills
Accomplishments
- Northern Territory Primary Teacher Award Finalist, 12/2012
- Voice Program- Students entered speeches. 5 students' speeches were selected to be read in the Federal Parliament by our local members of the Senate and Upper House.
Additional Information - Teacher Registration
South Australia 596078, 01/31/27
Educational Philosophy
The ultimate purpose of education is to assist us in knowing God, living according to His ways and fulfilling His purpose for our lives. Education is a continual process of which formal schoolwork is a significant part. The educative process must address the student as a complete being spirit, soul and body. The acquisition of skills to think logically and objectively about our perceptions and experiences and the application of these skills in solving real life problems is of great importance. Each child learns differently and teaching of knowledge, skills and values needs to be presented using a variety of learning styles and methods. The responsibility for education is ultimately that of the parent and teachers operate under delegated authority from the parents. Thus teachers and parents are partners under God in the educative process of children. The supporting roles of parents, church and the wider community in the educative process has a profound impact on the learning outcomes and success of children. A teacher's ability to impart the love of Christ through a caring, nurturing relationship with students where mutual faith, trust and respect are fostered greatly enhances the learning outcomes. A teacher's personal life experience and walk with God are vital in developing an ability to communicate with and understand the attitudes and values of children, parents and colleagues from a diverse socio-economic and church background. Truth can only be really be determined by measuring it against the unchanging word of the Creator God as espoused in the Bible. All issues must be resolved with a reference to this concept. A teacher must have an exemplary lifestyle living pure and holy before God because His lifestyle will infect for better or worse all those who come in contact with Him.
Professional Development
- 2025, MultiLit training for SpellEx and Initial Lit Programs
- 2016-2026, Various self learning webinars, staff professional development – SPELD, behavior management, sports, inclusion, Maths and additional needs.
- 2021, Sue Lackly strategies for working with children with Autism
- 2020, Money Smart Training
- 2012, First Steps Writing
- 2011, First Steps First Step Numeracy Trainer Course
- 2009, KU Various in house training days around children with additional needs and ESL
- 2009, Newcastle University- Managing Children with Challenging behaviours and Autism.
- 2008, Australian Early Childhood Foundation SMART – Strategies for Managing Abuse related Trauma
- 2007/2008, OT for Nunga kids Introduction to OT, Sensory Integration, Alertness, regulation, attention, Motor skills, coordination and handwriting and Play.
- 2008, ARA Sudanese Cultural Experience Workshop
- 2008, ARA Vietnamese Cultural Experience Workshop
- 2007, ARA Afghani Cultural Experience Workshop
- 2007, ARA Somali Cultural Experience Workshop
- 2007, Southland College Masters Subject- Teaching as a pastoral ministry
- 2007, Trainset Child Protection Training South Australia
- 2005, Asthma Foundation Asthma Friendly School Certificate
- 2001, Australian Athletics Athletics Officials Course Track and Field
- 2001, Australian Gymnastics Federation Level O Gymnastics Coach
- 2001, Australian Cricket Board level O Cricket Coach
References
- Justin Koldwald - Head of Campus 08) 84880000
- Donna Smith - SVCC Leader of Culture and Practice Primary 0416078954
- Ester Manego - SVCC Classroom Teacher 0490035046
Timeline
Classroom Teacher / TRT Teaching
Southern Vales Christian College
07.2017 - Current
Acting Principal
Willowra School
05.2012 - 01.2013
Deputy Principal
Willowra School
02.2010 - 06.2012
Teacher
Willowra School
01.2010 - 12.2010
Education Development Officer
New Hope International
11.2007 - 01.2010
Casual Teaching
Various Schools
11.2007 - 01.2009
Inclusion Support Facilitator
KU and Inclusive Directions
08.2007 - 12.2009
Teacher
Dunmore Lang Christian School
12.2003 - 01.2007
School Trainer / Teacher and Sponsorship Program
Ugandan Australian Foundation
12.2002 - 11.2003
Wife and Mum
Home
2013 - Current
Certificate 4 in TESOL -
Insipre Education
Bachelor of Education - Primary
Avondale College