After a web search brought up the availability of the Department's new Great Teaching, Inspired Learning cadetships, Jessica Solomon grasped the opportunity.
Jessica, who was at the time a Year 12 student and Vice-Captain of Lucas Heights Community School, had a particular passion for wood and metal work and an ambition to teach in NSW public schools. Apart from the many other benefits, including financial benefits and the guarantee of a permanent job on completion of studies, the cadetship allows her the opportunity ` … to have more experience and feel more comfortable interacting with students when I start teaching.' Now in just the early stages of university studies, Jessica already has many hours of classroom experience behind her.
`Through the cadetship, I attend the school two half days per week. In the junior years I help out as an extra pair of hands in the classroom, and with older students I observe the teacher's methods and how he interacts with the students. I also work with the Year 8 woodwork teacher on how to link the syllabus dot points to lesson plans. This is really helpful to me as it's a lot of hands-on experience and it's putting the theory that I learn at uni straight into practice.'
Jessica sees a great opportunity to break stereotypes with her choice of subjects. `I think it will be good for female students to let them know they can choose whatever they want to do – not necessarily wood or metal work, but anything they want.'
Her advice to those considering cadetships? `I definitely think you should apply for the cadetship. You get a lot more experience than you would just from your uni pracs, and you get to see a lot of behind the scenes workings of the school that you wouldn't normally get to see, so that when you finish your degree you'll be a more confident teacher.'
Applications for a Great Teaching, Inspired Learning Cadetship can contact our team by telephone 1300 301 435 or by email at scholarships@det.nsw.edu.au.