Are you going to walk your craft with passion?

UTS Secondary Teacher Education preservice teachers experienced a jam-packed day of professional learning at a ‘Beginning Your Teaching Career’ conference held on the 28^th of March 2024. There was an inspirational keynote address delivered by the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar, an expert panel of school leaders and beginner teachers, and a series of interactive workshops featuring topics such as early career insights, HSC strategy, managing the learning environment, and enriching learning with technology.

What kind of professional learning will help beginner teachers to develop a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and practice? 

Such a question drove the third annual UTS School of International Studies and Education teacher education conference. One key component involved creating opportunities to listen to the passionate and inspirational stories of visionary leaders in education. Murat Dizdar’s dynamic keynote conveyed the significance of passion as he related the special teachers who inspired his teaching journey. His message of ‘service’ warmed the hearts of preservice teachers, who understood the enormity of entering one of society’s most time-honoured professions. 

Murat walks the talk through his inverted leadership model, which positions him at the very bottom of the pecking order, with 800,000 students and 95,000 teachers and support staff at the top. The cultural change of humility and service that he and his team have spear-headed speaks loud and clear. 

Are you going to walk the craft with passion?

Murat’s favourite teachers were highly organised, had dangerous peripheral vision, and gave something of themselves, revealing their humanity to students. As a high school student, he watched expert teachers weaving their craft to learn the magic of good teaching. 

So, what is Murat Dizdar passionate about? He proclaims that the cornerstone of public education is equity. He recalls how, even as a high school student, he attempted to smash through systemic disadvantage by speaking up on the behalf of families who lived in his housing commission. Murat puts an equity lens across everything that comes across his table, citing the Public Instruction Act, which advocates the need to provide the ‘best’ education for all children regardless of class distinction. 

One of his most notable takeaway messages is how the best teachers contribute to the ‘whole school.’ Like most teachers, Murat is a consummate storyteller. The whole theatre erupted in laughter as he recounted how he embraced school life by spending the initial days of his first teaching job getting a bus driver’s licence. Not only did he embrace the opportunity to take bus driving duties as a rugby league coach, but he also became a role-model for other teachers by transforming the lives of disenfranchised children.

Murat raises the gauntlet, challenging beginner teachers by asking them, “What can you bring to the table?”

Be the best teacher you can be!

Lila Mularczyk is another inspirational leader who was the principal of Merrylands High School, as well as the President of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (SPC). Lila exudes a similar passion for public school education and is tireless in supporting the next generation of teachers. Her message of working with parents, families, of becoming a leader and seeking the support of the teaching community provides strength and support. 

Lila’s session was followed by the expert panel with Belinda Guidice and Dilpreet Hayer (Principal and English Teacher, Prairiewood High School), Casey Johnson (Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning, Northmead CAPA High School) and Alice Leung (Head Teacher of Secondary Studies, Concord High School). Some gems of wisdom shared during this session include:

• Good teachers can learn and listen. Their goal is to serve and to improve the learning of those under their care.
• What is the difference between ‘busy’ work and high-quality teaching and learning?
• Develop your ‘why.’ What are your core values and purposes? Let them drive your practice.
• Teachers who struggle feel like things are outside of their control. What is your ‘locus of control?’ What can you do to turn the tide? 

The learning continued with breakout sessions with the panel members, as well as Cindy Ngo and Daniel Herron (EAL/D and TAS, Prairiewood High School) and Nancy Morvillo and Alex Harris (HSC Strategy, NSW Department of Education). 

The day was driven by the passion and vision of multiple generations of teachers, who were story tellers, mentors and deeply ethical human beings, as well as strong advocates of equity and social justice. 

As the day wound to a close, there was an overriding feeling of hope. This hope resided in the knowledge that the future of NSW schools was in good hands, not just because of the passion that burnt in the hearts of its newest teachers, but through knowing that the teaching and learning community have got ‘their back.’