Name
Jade Meehan

School and current role
Currently working as a Classroom Teacher at St Clare’s Catholic School, Burdell

Year levels/subjects taught
I have only ever taught Prep (and couldn’t imagine teaching any other grade!)

How long have you been in teaching?
This is my fourth year of teaching.

What inspired you to become a teacher?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. My journey started way back in Primary School. After school each day, I would play teachers with my younger brother. He roleplayed being one of my students whilst I planned the timetable and walked him through our daily routine. I also thought that because I could write neatly on the whiteboard, I was made for the job. 

At the end of high school, I came to a crossroad about what to study, but was encouraged to pursue a career in Midwifery. I moved from a rural town in NSW to Townsville and began studying a double degree; a Bachelor of Nursing Science- Bachelor of Midwifery. Four years, a marriage, two children, 1600+ hours of placement and a 6-month deployment of my Husband later, I completed my degrees and moved to Canberra to begin my Graduate year as a Registered Nurse/Midwife. 

The entire way through my course, I was constantly looking up Education degrees, ways to transfer courses, and several variations of “how to know if you should change degrees”. I knew that I loved being a Midwife and the sacredness of being present as someone walked in as a person, but left as a Mum, but I couldn’t help but feel the “what if’s” deep down. Regardless, I pushed it down and carried on completing my Graduate year as a Midwife. Within a few days of finishing, I was offered a permanent contract. Something about the finality of the word “permanent” on the contract acted as a catalyst for me to investigate a teaching degree. I contacted a university but sat on it for a little while longer. 

Then Covid hit, and I had a lot of time at home with my young family to think about what I really wanted. Covid happened to co-inside with my daughter starting Pre-School (Kindy in Queensland). Her teacher sent home a pack of activities to do with her, and I was obsessed. I took the optional activities very seriously, as if I was her teacher, and found myself trying new things beyond the options, like using chalk markers to make patterns on our windows, recreating the Gruffalo out of natural materials we found in the garden and retelling fairytales with paddle pop stick puppets. I decided very shortly after to begin studying a Masters of Teaching (Primary), knowing the journey that would lie ahead studying whilst shift working, with young children, no family near by and a husband working in the Army would not be easy. 

After completing my first two units, I went on prac, terrified and still doubting if I was making the right choice. But when I got home from day 1 of my first prac in a Catholic school, Grade 3 class with the kindest mentor, I had no doubt in my mind I was always meant to teach.  

That’s the thing about a calling; you can only pretend you don’t feel it for so long, until it becomes something you can no longer ignore. I’m so thankful every day that I took the risk, because if I didn’t, I would probably still be wondering “what if”.

As said by Jennifer Lee, “be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”.

Share a moment in your career where you really felt you made a difference.
Picking one isolated moment is a challenge, because part of the privilege of being a Prep teacher is that you are an important part of so many moments that feel ordinary, but when you look back, those are the moments that shape our little learners the most. It’s the friendly smile that reaffirms their sense of belonging to our class, the quick affirmation that grows their confidence, or the “I’m so proud of you” that reminds them that the mistake they just made matters less than the way they overcame it. 

Recently at our school, I had a knock at the door. One of my former students who taught me a thing or two about behaviour management in my Graduate year came in with a piece of paper, followed by the School Chaplain, and asked me to read it out loud. It said, “give this note to a teacher who made you feel safe”. Immediately, I was taken back to my Graduate year, and the many moments in which I had to choose how I would respond to their behaviour. I got a bit teary as I realised that in each of those moments, I chose connection first, and that my choices years ago had stuck with them as much as it had stuck with me. 

And then came a few more knocks at the door from students over the past couple of years with more notes, and I realised that it’s showing up every day, and leading with love is what makes the difference. And that sometimes, you don’t realise the difference you make until a child turns up on a random Wednesday with a note and a smile and reminds you that the ordinary is always within the extraordinary. 

Is there a story from your time teaching that has inspired you or had a deep impact on you?
During my graduate teaching year, my youngest child was diagnosed with ADHD after an unsettled year at Kindy. Having been through that journey gives you a deep appreciation for children who don’t always fit neatly into the box. 

As a parent, you spend five years worth of what feels like endless days with your child. And then one day, you send them off to school, and with them goes a little piece of your heart. You spend your days hoping they will be seen the way you see them; that their teacher spots the magic inside of them; that their silly laugh and sideways smile bring joy to others, the way it does to you. 

Going through that as a parent, made me a better teacher. 

Professionally, this is a lesson I continue to learn from my teaching partner. She taught me that what you look for is what you will see, and that every child has a light inside them, and when you take the time to discover and celebrate it, they will shine.

How does your faith shape your teaching approach?
At my Catholic primary school, the school motto was “All Things for God”. Whilst I didn’t know it at the time, my Grade 4 Teacher, taking the time to really explain what it meant and the way that Jesus lived out that message stayed with me throughout my life, and acts as a basis for my teaching pedagogy today. 

My faith reminds me that above all else, to lead with love. In the classroom, this means creating a safe space where each child knows how special they are and is recognised for the gifts they bring. It’s teaching and modelling appreciation, compassion and forgiveness every day, and valuing children and their families for who they are, whilst nurturing the potential for who they can become.

What’s the most rewarding part of teaching in a Catholic school?
Being a Prep teacher in a Catholic school places you in a really privileged, unique position. Some children have a developing sense of faith already, whilst for others, you are their first encounter with Jesus. Being able to meet children and families where they are at, whether it’s further developing their understanding of God, the Bible, our school Saint and Catholicism as a religion, or introducing them to these, provides a strong foundation for children to begin or continue their faith-filled journey, or build a strong platform for mutual respect and understanding for non-believers. 

Regardless, working in a Catholic school reminds me that we see children for who they are, and the gifts they bring, beyond the limitations of what they academically achieve. In our Catholic school, our teachers, families and children espouse the school values of Compassion, Love, Effort, Appreciation and Respect referenced from the Gospel every day, and being a part of something so powerful like that is the most rewarding part of teaching in a Catholic school. 

What do you think is the most valuable role Catholic education plays in today’s society?
As you read this, you might have noticed something; my journey has consistently been shaped by teachers. When I truly pause and reflect on the educators, all from Catholic schools, who have influenced my life and taught me well beyond the curriculum, the list is so long. 

Mr Kennedy from Grade 4, Mrs Blackwell from my first teaching prac, Mrs Dianne who shaped my love for Prep teaching, Ms Buzzo and Mrs Kennedy who showed me what it feels like to hand your child over on their first day of Prep knowing they will be so cared for, Mrs Wade who believed in me when I wasn’t yet sure of myself and Miss Shine who cheers me on, challenges me to grow and reminds me of the magic of teaching every day. 

If you want to know the most valuable role Catholic education plays in today’s society, I invite you to pause and reflect upon your own journey. Think about all the teachers who have influenced you; the teachers who instilled faith, hope and love in you; the teachers who saw you for the wonderful person you were; the teachers who believed in you long before you believed in yourself; and the teachers whose impact lives through your words and actions, long after you left their classroom. 

The true impact of Catholic education is often found years later, in the hearts of people who were lucky enough to have known, seen and been taught by Catholic educators. 

We teach academics, we inspire faith, but most of all we lead with love. What a privilege it is to be a teacher in Catholic education.