Geoff Crawford

Secondary school was an unpleasant experience for me. I would wag school at every opportunity until eventually, I was caught by truancy officers. Before the end of Year 8 it was suggested by my principal that school might not be the best option and arrangements were made for me to take up other pursuits. After time spent working stacking shelves in supermarkets I ventured into the sign writing industry. Over the next few years I learned my trade and went on to run my own business servicing many high-profile corporate clients. In 1988, I decided I needed to explore other paths and took up studies at university as a mature age student. In 1991 I began a career in teaching.

My first position in a newly established independent school offered opportunities to take on a range of leadership positions including; Head of English, Year Level Coordinator, Head of House, Head of Humanities and Staff Association President. In 2002, an opportunity to teach in England arose and provided me with challenges that reshaped my outlook on teaching. Whilst in the UK I taught in a wide range of schools including comprehensive secondary, Catholic, independent preparatory, primary and infant. Since returning from England, I have held positions in a Catholic boy’s college and an Anglican Grammar School as a Year Level Coordinator. I am currently Curriculum Coordinator for a private secondary school.

Throughout my career I have conducted workshops at VATE and ALEA conferences. I have presented VCE English lectures for the State Library of Victoria and for VATE. I see professional development and self improvement as an essential part of a teacher’s responsibilities and believe strongly in the need to develop healthy working relationships with students. It is through reflection, discussion and introspection that I have come to terms with the changing environment in schools and the need to foster alternative ways of thinking about the role of the educator.

Six Bridges is the result of lengthy debate and a pooling of ideas with friend and sometimes colleague, Anthony Nunan. We may have begun at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of philosophy and practice but have managed to meet somewhere near the middle. I bring an appreciation and understanding of the practical role that can be played by middle-management and administration in building a better working environment. I have also seen first-hand the problems created by poor communication between the various levels of school structures. Above all, experience in “managing” students, staff and parents encourage an empathetic approach to matters of classroom management, discipline and communication with the wider school community. My own shaky start as a student has left me with a constant reminder of the important role teachers play in shaping young lives and how they can make or break a student’s attitude to learning. I hope Six Bridges can be the start of a new approach to education, both in the classroom and at a whole school level.

Geoff