Revealed: Chipping Norton teacher Cassandra Kim named region’s best

Your votes have been counted and the results are in. Now it’s time to meet the young teacher who you’ve crowned as the region’s best!

She’s only been teaching for four years, but this passionate educator has already inspired classrooms of young children and become a beloved member of the Chipping Norton community.

Chipping Norton Public School’s Cassandra Kim was voted by you, our readers, as Liverpool’s best teacher for 2021.

Ms Kim said she was “incredibly honoured” to win the title, admitting that it came as a shock to her.

“I was not expecting this at all,” she said.

Chipping Norton Public School teacher Cassandra Kim was voted Liverpool’s best teacher in 2021

Ms Kim, who has spent all four years of her teaching career at Chipping Norton Public School, explained she’s always harboured a love of teaching young children.

“I always wanted to be a teacher when I was younger,” Ms Kim said.

“As a kid, I used to make little worksheets … and teach my brother.”

But it wasn’t a straight path to teaching for Ms Kim – she loved business, economics and English during high school, and was uncertain about her future career path when it came time to select her university preferences.

“It was a bit of a struggle and I had a lot of conversations with my parents, my family and my partner,” Ms Kim recalls.

She initially thought about becoming a high school teacher but it was her family who reminded her of her love for children.

Now, after teaching for four years, Ms Kim’s aim is to create a classroom environment where every student feels that they’re not just coming to school because they have to.

She does so by providing every student with a safe environment where they can build relationships, develop passions and achieve their personal best.

Ms Kim also thanked the school community, particularly for all their support during Covid and the disruptions that have arisen this year.

Parents at Chipping Norton Public School, helping out on BBQ duties when the school held its annual fete.

“The parents are so supportive and lovely … we’re so lucky to have so many parents come and help out at our school,” she said.

When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Ms Kim put it down to watching her students grow and developing a strong rapport with them.

“They’re all so honest and open at that age and they’re just becoming problem solvers,” Ms Kim explained.

“I find it so rewarding knowing that I’m making a difference by teaching them and preparing them for the future.”