Staff Spotlight – Hannah Fazackerley

Hannah is a Year 3 mentor, we popped into her class and asked some quick questions!

What do you love about your job?

There are so many parts of teaching that I love. I am currently teaching Year 3 at the Junior School and feel very fortunate to be able to teach in such a supportive and happy work environment. I love teaching my class and seeing them excited and engaged in new learning opportunities or concepts that they haven’t explored before. I enjoy trying to teach in a way that combines interests and subject matters for my students, so that they can enjoy engaging, hands-on, and integrated learning experiences that are fun and immersive.

What made you want to study teaching?

I can’t remember the first time that I thought about being a teacher as a child, but I know it was always something that I thought I would like to do. I love school and always looked up to my teachers growing up. I remember playing schools with friends and siblings and I always desperately wanted to play the teacher. As an adult, I think I realised that I wanted to teach when I began working with children as a part-time job and teaching coding and robotics while at school. I loved helping students overcome challenges and seeing the sense of pride and achievement when they would learn something new or achieve a goal.

What is one thing you would go back and tell your 14-year-old self?

If I could go back and tell my 14-year-old self one thing, it would be to try not to sweat the small stuff and to not worry so much about being ‘cool’. I think that it is wonderful to try your best and to work hard towards your goals, but it is also very important to enjoy the process and to try not to worry about things that are out of your control. I also hope to not miss out on experiences or joyful opportunities due to worrying about being ‘cool’ or worrying about the opinions of others. I loved looking through old albums and seeing photos of my Mum and Aunties with enormous hair and blue eyeshadow, looking so happy in the moment (and definitely not looking cool!). While I do have a giggle at some of the images, I hope to look back at my own photos one day and feel as though I was truly immersed in the moment, enjoying myself and not being too concerned with appearances.

What is one thing you would love to do, if you could you do anything?

I would love to travel the world with an unlimited bank account!

If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would be seated at your table?

I would invite Mary Queen of Scots, Sir David Attenborough, Maya Angelou, Jacinda Ardern and Katherine Johnson.