In this episode, we speak with Kaylee Andrews, a primary teacher at Bourchier Street Primary School in Shepparton.

Listen in as Kaylee discusses the considerations around maternity leave as a primary teacher, the importance of building a friendship with your kids, adapting to the sudden impact of the pandemic, and leaving a legacy to your students.

Key Highlights

 ● [03:11] An introduction to Kaylee Andrews 

● [07:14] How ongoing contracts are offered to teachers 

● [11:25] Why Kaylee loves being a teacher 

● [15:06] The impact of forced home learning 

● [17:39] What Kaylee and her school could have done differently to adapt to COVID-19 in hindsight 

● [21:26] How parents have adapted to this massive shift in their kids’ schooling 

● [24:33] Is Kaylee the friend she wishes she can be to her kids? 

● [26:24] A story of an autistic student that Kaylee had a strong connection with 

● [30:45] Can Kaylee imagine her students as adults? ● [36:29] Kaylee on her crafts business 

● [44:11] Who inspires Kaylee and is someone she would like to see on the show? 

Powerful Quotes by Kaylee 

● One of the biggest things for me is, I want my kids to see me as their friend. Yes, you’re their teacher; but if you are their friend and they have that respect for you as someone that they actually like and want to talk to, I think it’s easier to be an authority figure when you have that friendship and that relationship with them first. 

● I still think about my own teachers. I still have those lessons in my head. I still think about the words that they said to me. I still think about the situations and the things that I shared with them. They’re core memories for me. They’re things that I think about all the time and they’re things that I try and shape my teaching style off. 

● I think my relationships and memories with those teachers are really important to me, and I would love for my kids to be like, “I remember when Ms. Andrews sat down with me and had this conversation,” ten years after the fact.