At Casey Grammar we are very proud of all staff and their achievements.  Throughout the year, we will highlight a different staff member within each newsletter to introduce you to some members you perhaps haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet.  This week, we sat down and had a chat with Vanessa Hodgkiss.

Meet Vanessa Hodgkiss!

Foundation Teacher and Head of Early Years (F-2)

Qualifications: 

Bachelor of Education, The University of Melbourne.  Master of Education, The University of Melbourne

What attracted you to work at Casey Grammar School?

Casey Grammar School has such a remarkable sense of community and a true commitment to education and engaging in best practice. It is a warm and nurturing environment that also strives to continually grow and innovate and puts student growth, development and belonging at the forefront.

What do you love most about your job and why?

There are so many facets of my job that I love! As a Foundation teacher, I love that I get to be part of a child’s first learning experiences at school. They are such special, precious moments of learning and discovery, and I feel so privileged that I get to be part of it. I love that I get to shape those learning experiences and create a learning environment in which great ideas and great learning can happen. I feel that helping a child gain a sense of belonging and to experience success in their learning can have a profound impact on their future. Helping a child to love learning, to really love it, and to develop their self-belief, is something that they can take with them for the rest of their life. I love that I get to be part of that journey each day. In my role as a leader, I love that I can be there to support students and families across the F–2 area, as well as sharing my knowledge and supporting my colleagues to do the amazing work that they do each day as educators.

Which avenues do you use to ensure your skills and knowledge are current?

I have always been actively involved across various areas of education, from involvement in educational organisations such as the Victorian Association of Philosophy in Schools, teaching and engaging in educational research at Monash University and presenting at educational conferences which has allowed me to engage with experts in the field and develop my own knowledge of current and developing practices. I am currently part of an advisory panel for the Victorian Assessment and Curriculum Authority, which involves analysing and providing recommendations regarding the new curriculum due to be released to schools later this year. I am also undertaking a Professional Certificate in Educational Neuroscience with The University of Melbourne, involving cutting-edge research into how the brain learns and how this can be used to inform and enhance teaching practice.

In addition to engaging in my own independent reading and research, Casey Grammar School provides so many professional development opportunities for staff. The structures put in place at Casey Grammar allow for an incredible number of opportunities to engage in ongoing professional dialogue. It is wonderful for someone like me, who loves to learn and continually develop my teaching practice and knowledge.

What is one thing on your bucket list?

I would love to take my twins to Canada!

Tell us about the photo you've shared with us.

This is our beautiful golden retriever, Bear, who was originally a surprise gift for my daughters on their birthday but has actually been the most wonderful gift for our entire family.