The 2019 school year marks Simon Bint’s third year as a teacher at Pinjarra Senior High, but his first as a fully accredited one.
Transitioning over from a career in marketing and branding, Mr Bint got his start at the school as an associate of the Teach for Australia Leadership Development Program, graduating from the program at the end of 2018.
Teach for Australia (TFA) expanded into Western Australian schools in 2015 and provides professionals who have been successful in their field outside of education a way to transition into teaching, bringing with them their wide-ranging skill sets and experiences.
TFA places its selected associates into schools that are either difficult to staff or far from Australia's capital cities.
The organisation's mission is to see every student in Australia, regardless of location or background, receive an excellent education.
For me, teaching has always been in my field of vision.
- Simon Bint
Mr Bint reflected on his experience so far.
“Beginning my teaching career at Pinjarra SHS was full of challenge. Mostly because I was an outsider to the school and the town, and the students could pick it immediately," he said.
"So, over the past two years, I have worked in and outside of the classroom to gain the acceptance of students, their parents and my new colleagues. All this while coming to grips with a new profession.
"What a learning curve it has been.
“People have asked me why I retrained to become a teacher. For me, teaching has always been in my field of vision.
"My mum is a teacher, my sister became a teacher and I married a teacher.
"I would watch their work cycles, and throughout it all, they remained fulfilled.
"The work was hard but they loved it and they saw the positive impact they had in kids' lives."
Mr Bint is Pinjarra Senior High’s second TFA graduate and the school is committed to continued support of the program into 2019 and beyond.
“Simon has been a great asset to the school and shown continued commitment and dedication to his teaching,” Pinjarra Senior High associate principal Fiona Davidson said.
“Through the TFA program, Simon initially taught humanities and social sciences but now also teaches Certificate II Music, whilst being a year coordinator. Simon, with the support of the TFA, has grown into his teaching and learning role at Pinjarra Senior High School.
"The TFA program is a very beneficial program and I would recommend it to other schools."
