Centralian Senior College educator Tim Brown shares shift from business to teaching

One of Alice Springs’ newest educators has shared his journey from small business owner to maths teacher, plugging one of many vacancies in the Territory.

The jump from running a music venue in Canberra to teaching maths in Alice Springs isn’t so big a leap as one might think.

Centralian Senior College teacher Tim Brown said his experience in the small business world gave him a leg up in his new career and said teaching maths had always been at the back of his mind.

Mr Brown said he started teaching nine weeks ago and that he hoped to teach digital technology next term as well.

“People often mention how tough teaching is, but running a business felt like another level,” he said.

“It involves considering and juggling various ideas at once, communicating effectively, impeccable time management, plenty of sacrifice and dealing with high levels of stress – I also had to learn how to switch off and be truly present in life outside of work hours.

“All these skills and challenges have been invaluable in the classroom.”

Former Canberra music venue owner Tim Brown relocated to Alice Springs to teach maths at Centralian Senior College through the Teach for Australia program.

Mr Brown – who transitioned to teaching through the Teach for Australia program – said he was loving his new role and found it “incredibly rewarding”.

He said he’d always considered himself an “atypical math geek” and enjoyed challenging students to see the subject creatively as a “canvas to promote problem solving”.

“Things don’t always land, but if you have the curiosity to learn it’s an insightful window into how our minds work, and you learn plenty about yourself,” he said.

“It’s also really fulfilling, even the smallest wins make a big difference.

“Every day is entertaining – kids are hilarious.”

Former Canberra music venue owner Tim Brown relocated to Alice Springs to teach maths at Centralian Senior College through the Teach for Australia program.

Mr Brown found teaching in Alice Springs offered a particularly unique experience and said he learned as much as he taught.

“You’re intimately close to fascinating stories and Country, and there’s always plenty you’ll learn from the kids themselves,” he said.

“There aren’t many places like this where students teach and yarn about how to weld a dirt bike, wrangle a bull or cook kangaroo tail.”

An Education Department spokeswoman on Friday said there were 93 reported classroom teaching vacancies in the NT, 17 of which were based in Alice Springs.

“Every student across the NT has a quality teacher in front of them from the first day they start school to the day they graduate,” she said.

“Consistent with the national teacher shortage, we have vacancies in our schools, however the number of vacant positions is reducing day by day.

The spokeswoman said corporate staff were being deployed in schools to plug the gaps where necessary.

Originally published as Centralian Senior College educator Tim Brown shares shift from business to teaching