Years of Teaching Experience: 12+
Degree & Certifications: Bachelor of Journalism; Graduate Diploma of Education (middle years); Australian (QLD) Teacher Registration
After a career in journalism and public relations in London, Tom became focused on searching for a profession that would have more of a positive impact on society and would allow him to help others in a more direct manner. This naturally led him to the profession of teaching where he has happily provided his services for more than a decade. Tom discovered his passion for teaching early on and has been working ever since on a journey of lifelong learning with the children under his care as his sole inspiration. Students in their primary years of schooling are naturally curious about the world around them and Tom found that it was his responsibility to not only nurture this curiosity, but to expand on it and take it to levels the students never imagined.
Throughout the course of his career and because of his background in journalism, Tom developed a desire to become an expert at teaching literacy. He sought the services of a literacy coach for 5 years to hone his craft and learn as much as he could about the explicit teaching of reading and writing. As a result, Tom has taught countless numbers of children to read, all of them with individual challenges and needs that needed to be met in order for them to access the incredible world of literacy. Tom inspires children to not only read to learn but to develop a lifelong passion for reading for pleasure.
While Tom has become a specialised teacher of literacy, he is also devoted to providing the highest level of instruction in Mathematics and Science. He is passionate about the scientific methods of investigation, both inside and outside of school, and believes that Science has always been the driving force behind developing a better society. Unlike a lot of people, the heroes and inspirational people in Tom’s life have mainly been mathematicians and scientists. He believes Mathematics and Science should be taught practically, in a hands-on manner as much as possible, to excite students and to further develop that natural curiosity.
Tom has been working as the Learning Lead of the International Primary Sector for over a year now. During this time, he has built meaningful relationships with the students, parents and staff within the HAIS community. He continues to place students at the centre of everything he does at HAIS and is always available to speak to parents about issues surrounding education.
Fun Fact: Tom once held the Sgt. Pepper’s drum and some amplifiers belonging to Jimi Hendrix the day before helping to sell a £37 million painting. For more information, you’ll have to introduce yourself to Tom.