Good teachers shape a child’s education, work and life and should be celebrated more

The impact teachers have on students’ education, personal lives and careers cannot be overstated but, sadly, is often overlooked.

If you think about the people who have had the biggest influence on your life, I’d bet many of us would include at least one teacher on our list. But when I reflect on my own experience, I’m struck by how profoundly key teachers shaped not just my education, but my approach to life and work.

My Year 5 homeroom teacher sparked this non-science-y student’s curiosity by

relating challenging concepts to real-life experiences. She had a knack for breaking big scientific ideas down into titbits I could understand and wanted to learn more about. Her generous use of gold stars and scratch-and-sniff stickers may also have played a role in my newfound enthusiasm, demonstrating the motivating power of positive reinforcement (and, of course, stationery).

Sarah Hunter, managing director of Officeworks, says key teachers shaped not just her education, but her approach to life and work. Picture: Supplied

And my Year 12 maths teacher who empowered me to work out a plan for balancing my course work during a difficult period in my life and trusted me to deliver on it. The flexibility and trust he showed meant I was even more committed to his classes and gave me a new confidence in my ability to work through challenges.

And my senior history teacher who gave our class the freedom to choose our final project topics. I’m not sure how compelling my essay on the influence of classic literature on Greek columns was to read but being empowered to follow my curiosity meant I delved deeper, tried harder and learned more.

While I may not use Greek architecture, photosynthesis or quadratic equations in my daily life, the deeper lessons these experiences taught me — the impact of positive reinforcement, the power of trust, the value of curiosity — are baked into the way I live and work.

At Officeworks, we believe that every child should have equitable access to a quality education, no matter their circumstances. But that quality education doesn’t happen without the hard work and passion of teachers.

Teachers are equipping students with the skills they need to navigate a future we can’t predict and jobs that might not exist yet. Picture: iStock

Teachers today are equipping our kids with the skills they need to navigate a future we can’t predict, jobs that might not exist yet and challenges we can’t always foresee. The impact teachers have on their students’ education and on their lives cannot be understated but sadly, it’s often overlooked.

The Australia’s Best Teachers campaign is a much-needed opportunity to showcase inspiring and innovative educators across the country and Officeworks is proud to help celebrate them.

• Sarah Hunter is Managing Director of Officeworks, a major partner of Australia’s Best Teachers.

Celebrating inspirational and impactful teachers across Australia. Follow the series and nominate.

Originally published as Good teachers shape a child’s education, work and life and should be celebrated more