James Harris

English and Humanities Teacher
Whitsundays Anglican High School
I love teaching, seeing kids minds light up when you teach them a new concept is the best.  I’m now working alongside these teachers helping school kids realise their own potential, which is mind blowing.

Why did you want to become at teacher?
The reason I really wanted to be a teacher was because of the teachers I had in high school, they really helped me flip my life around and were influential in developing my love for English and Drama. I love teaching, seeing kids minds light up when you teach them a new concept is the best.  I’m now working alongside these teachers helping school kids realise their own potential, which is mind blowing. I’ll also be directing a school musical next year which I’m really excited about.

Why did you choose to study teaching?
Originally, I did 6 months of business at UQ and hated it. Then I started reflecting on how much my high school teachers really influenced me. When I was a kid, I just never really considered teaching, but I started the course and loved it. I excelled in English and drama at school and knew I wanted to be an English and drama teacher because of how much I loved it.

What was your placement experience like?
I completed my High Schooling at Whitsundays Anglican High School, so when I was offered the opportunity to return and complete my final 6 week teaching prac at the same school, I jumped on it. I had impressed the school so much that when a teacher left suddenly I was offered a full time teacher position at the school. Everything moved really quickly, my permission to teach was granted on a Friday which meant I moved back home to Mackay from Brisbane on the weekend and started teaching that Monday. I am now working full time as an English and Drama teacher teaching years 7 and 8.

Because of how quickly everything happened with my job, the first two weeks of full time work and full time study was really hard but with the support of the School of Education I was able to manage my time and I got back far better grades than I thought I deserved because of how frantic it was. The School of Education were also really supportive during my prac in Mackay, I was constantly in contact with my teachers and didn’t feel isolated, they have helped me so much.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Secondary Education / Bachelor of Arts (English and Drama)
2019