Spotlight On: Angela Jones

Ms Angela Jones is a Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Teacher at Wesley College. In addition to her role as a Geography specialist, Angela enjoys travelling both in Australia and internationally. Angela has been teaching at Wesley since 2013, and has recently acquired the role of Professional Practice Lead.

Tell us about some of your experiences prior to working at Wesley:

I’m originally from the UK, and growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I studied a geography degree at university, and worked in finance, before moving to Australia. My sister lives here, so using my ‘geographical-language’ that was the greatest ‘pull’ factor. I only intended to stay in Australia for 14 months. It’s now been 12 years, and I’ve been very fortunate to work in three different Australian schools. I think Wesley is the best school I’ve ever worked at, and absolutely love working here.

As a Geography teacher, what are some of your favourite travelling experiences?

I love travelling, one of my favourite places was Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory when I visited in 2001. Our tour group undertook a two-day hiking adventure through the Barrk Malam indigenous area. The highlight for me, was when we walked past the ‘Beware of the Crocs’ sign only to get into the gorge and swim. At the end of the gorge, we were greeted by the Twin Falls, and a white-sandy beach, which was covered in palms. There’s so much of Australia that is so special.

What makes teaching at Wesley unique?

There’s never a dull moment teaching at Wesley. I feel like our motto – By Daring and Doing – is lived out by students, and staff members. As staff, we’re always encouraged to be innovative in providing new material and learning methods. The students have so many opportunities where they can strive to be the best version of themselves.

What does the role of Professional Practice Lead entail?

This is a new role implemented in 2020, and it encourages teachers to have an extra pair of eyes in the classroom. It’s important for teachers to understand how students are responding and engaging to activities. We work together with a group of approximately 12 teachers, with the view to promote the best teaching and learning experiences.

During COVID-19, what is one thing that you have learned from your students?

It was great to see how quickly my students were able to adapt to online learning. Field trips are a vital part in teaching how geography applies to the real world, so I decided to run a virtual field trip. Through using online tools like Google Earth and video links, the Year 11 & 12 students had the same learning opportunities as previous cohorts. It’s great to have all the students back now. It’s very difficult to replicate the face-to-face benefits associated with teaching.

If you could travel safely anywhere in the world, where would you travel?

Firstly, I would visit my family. We live across four countries, and three different continents. Although it’s unlikely that I’ll see them in the foreseeable future, it’ll be great when we are finally reunited. I love travelling, and learning about different cultures, so I’ll go anywhere!

Outside the College, what are your favourite things to do?

I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking. I also enjoy going to the theatre, and the movies. Unfortunately, they’re all closed at the moment but I’m a fan of the classics like Shawshank Redemption and the Breakfast Club.