high school teacher

Department of Education WA

The feeling you get when a kid chooses you as the one person they will open up to and let down their guard.
The bond you form with your students after spending 180 days with them during the school year. I've had students from 10 years ago still stop by to see me, send me emails, and look me up on Facebook. I've been invited to baby showers, weddings, and college graduations of former students. I'm always touched that they still remember me.
The friendships you make with other staff. Some of my closest friends are those that I've met while teaching. You'll share ideas about not only work-related issues but also every other part of your lives, as well.
You'll always get to enjoy your love of learning. If I've learned anything, it is that you are constantly learning and growing within the profession. There are so many great websites and ideas that other teachers have and are willing to share.
The "aha moment" when the students finally understand what you've been teaching. You can see it on their faces, and you know you've opened a door in their minds that might otherwise have remained closed.
Being a hero. Knowing you are the only person that some kids have to rely upon, and that you are their source of strength and inspiration.
Summer vacations. I don't think I need to elaborate on this little gem that comes with the profession.
The days off. Let's face it, in no other profession will you receive time off nearly every month. The days and weeks off throughout the school year are fantastic!

Working for the department of education is rewarding if the following criteria is met.

The position is permanent and on-going. This means that you are not struggling without income for extended periods on part-time, casual or nothing at all. 

Lately many teachers have been forced into casual employment due to lack of opportunity. Many of us are over 50, too young to retire yet deemed too old for positions which we have years of experience and extensive qualifications. Retraining and profession development has supposedly made us less obsolete. If this was true then we would not be applying for work.  

The move to cut the workforce and casualise once secure professional positions such as the class room teacher has resulted in over 175000 people over the age of 55 claiming Newstart allowance. We are people who should be employed to help the economy grow. By not providing work for us the government is producing another financial burden. When we reach retirement age me and my peers will become a heavy drain on the government.

Poor leadership where REDs listen only to the empty vessels who are agenda-driven.
Threatening leadership without care for others, especially during difficult periods of conflict or other difficulties
Directors never ask the teachers for their ideas and fail to communicate what they really expect 
There is a culture of rising to the top and forgetting where you came from 
Students run most schools and many teachers in rural communities dictate what is to happen because they have been there so long
Many of the Teachers Aids in many areas are just so lazy, take between 5-10 smoke breaks a day and just do crosswords when they are so supposed to be supporting students' needs
Lots of programs are implemented and purchased by schools based on REDs advice BUT the REDs or others have a vested interest in that program such as "Big Picture"
No problems if you are prepared to kiss their A^%$ and say yes!!!!



A typical day is always very varied with a lot of tasks to do,  the teaching program in each learning area changes all the time and there are many incidental situations that occur and that need priority. So we all learn to be flexible.  There are always a lot of different tasks in the typical day and always a lot of different student needs to attend to.  There are other colleagues, professionals, parents and school community to relate with and time management and supervision duties to consider all the time.

It's really no news that Australian teachers are overworked, burnt out , stressed out and underpaid. The pay is however one of the best in the whole world I suppose but still does not match the amount of work it involves. 

I cannot speak for the deskjobs within the department but I am assuming the satisfaction level in the deskjobs in likely higher. It is the teaching staff who are pulling a lot of load. 

I love working for the Department of Education; the atmosphere that I get from the teachers, staff and students is amazing but the only problem I've found is actually trying to get a permanent or full-time job is really difficult especially if you don't have much experience to back you up (like myself).

I wish I had better things to say - I made a career change into teaching for all the right reasons and I loved being in the classroom and I know I made a difference. But the cost to my personal well-being was just too high. The workload is beyond ridiculous and it will take major reforms to fix it. These will not happen, and it will continue for be a case of huge staff turnover and / or shortages. It makes me really sad.

Great place to work for and be part of a committed team that strives to serve and to use their talents and gifts for the service and benefit of our future generation.

Good people, good teachers and staff benefits and of course good holidays. Excellent pay and salary benefits as well as stricture professional learning and advancement avenues.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The diversity of students and staff.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Academic pressure, school size, administration, executive, and lack of leadership.

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