Mrs Jill Wright is a remarkable educator who currently shares the responsibility of the Year 7 classes at Cornerstone, and it is the College’s honour to make this introduction.

Jill has taught for the past 16 years after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching. Jill has always had a desire to teach, but due to family reasons was not able to pursue this until she entered her thirties. She believes that her chosen career is a God inspired calling and had to work hard to make it to where she is today. This difficult road has made her role even more rewarding.

Jill is qualified to teach from Kindergarten through to Year 10, but currently is happy contributing to the lives of students in the middle school years.   She is in her second year as a Year 7 teacher.

Jill absolutely loves her job.   ”This job is terrific because I find it very rewarding to develop and build relationships with people, especially with young people.  To share experiences with your students and to be part of their learning process and their life journey is an exciting privilege.  Every single day in a classroom is different and this is something that I find challenging and rewarding because you never get bored!”

Jill has a heart for her students and longs for them to feel involved and safe in an inclusive community.  She works hard in establishing a class that reflects a type of family unit.  She strives to have her students deal with one another with respect and to foster acceptance of differences.  She prays for her students and partners that with actively encouraging the children to look out for each other.   ”I find by developing this positive environment then students feel safe to take risks with their learning and relationships.  I hope that each student in my care knows they are valued by me and that I genuinely want the very best for them. ”

Jill is a firm believer in providing hands-on experiences to aid her student’s learning.  She has found that a visual learning approach helps those in her classes to retain information and understand concepts more readily.  She is focused on planning lessons that will allow for interaction and personal involvement.  With this aim in mind, projects such as Cows Create Careers, and excursions or camps provide hands on learning and opportunities to develop responsibility.  Group work also encourages and builds the relationships as well as fostering co-operation.

When asked about what she desires for her students, Jill was quick to comment.  ”I think that achieving educational outcomes is vital for our students to achieve success in the workforce.  However, as long as students reach their potential then we can ask no more, and students need to know this.  To develop a good work ethic, an ability to form relationships with people and to have empathy towards others will mean their impact on society will be positive.”

For Jill, the relationships that she has developed with students over the years are ongoing.   She believes that teaching is a wonderful calling and it is a privilege to be part of a child’s school life.