Australia’s Best Teachers: Sarah Truran says students need to know you care

In her first three years at a semi-rural high school Agricultural teacher Sarah Truran championed her students into award-winners at the Royal Adelaide Show.

There are many lessons Sarah Truran could impart to new teachers, but the senior agricultural teacher at Willunga High School in South Australia said the most important thing to remember as a teacher is to smile.

Ten plus years on from starting her career, she distinctly remembers starting out as a nervous graduate.

“I was so nervous that I looked like I wasn’t enjoying being in that classroom, and one child said, ‘Why don’t you smile, Miss?’ That had a big impact on me,” she said.

“I love my job and I think putting a big ol’ smile on your face is important. It shows the kids how much you enjoy being with them.”

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The popular teacher of years 9-to-12 had been nominated in the Australia’s Best Teachers campaign by school principal Anthony van Ruiten, who said that in Ms Truran’s first three years at Willunga High School she has completely transformed the agriculture program.

“Sarah’s classroom practice is outstanding and she has very high expectations of her students which are supported by exceptional relationships. Sarah regularly has up to 15 students working with her during lunch times, in a voluntary capacity, to care for the animals on our small farm and had a large group of students volunteer to work through vintage with her. She is truly exceptional.”

Humbly, Ms Truran said it’s not hard to be inspired to teach agriculture in a semi-rural setting in South Australia’s wine region.

Senior Agricultural teacher Sarah Truran with her students at Willunga High School.

“We are surrounded by vines and we run a program with the local vineyard and have cattle and sheep come to the school. We want the kids to be committed members of their community.”

Ms Truran’s students are clearly enthusiastic participants, taking out a host of awards at last year’s Royal Adelaide Show including Grand Champion Crossbred Carcass, First in Sheep Handling, Most Professional Steer Team and Best Wine, just to name a few.

“I am so happy when these kids do well, it means they are putting into practice what they are learning to industry standard and we are getting the culture right. Some of these kids don’t even come from an agriculture background.”

Ms Truran said it’s important to have strong boundaries in the classroom, especially when the students are working with animals or safety equipment, but she hopes her class are able also to achieve good results in Agriculture because they know they have a teacher that cares.

“I’m big on ensuring kids know they are cared about and they know they are important to me. I want them to understand we are one big team and we can achieve great things when we work together. It’s role modelling too,” she said. “If you treat kids with care and respect then they will treat their peers that way too.”

Originally published as Australia’s Best Teachers: Sarah Truran says students need to know you care