Name: Dimity Trudgett
One year out, this young teacher couldn’t be happier
When students at Dubbo Senior College were preparing for the HSC recently, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teacher Dimity Trudgett could well relate to what they were experiencing. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that the 23-year-old was sitting exams herself.
“I’ve always loved playing sports, particularly basketball an d t ouch football, an d t hat’s pretty much what led me towards PDHPE teaching,” explains Dimity.
Dimity began her first year of teaching PDHPE and Community and Family Studies in 2004, after graduating from NSW’s Charles Sturt University. For most teachers, their first year is often one of the most important and beneficial.
“It was pretty much what I expected it to be like,” says Dimity about her first year. “I learnt so much and had a really good mentor, which helped me a lot.
“I get along really well with the students, especially with the year 12’s. There’s only a few years difference between us and because of my sporting background I also know a lot of them already from playing in the same touch football tournaments.”
While the sporting element of teaching PDHPE is what Dimity enjoys most (she also coaches a local under-16 girls touch team as well as the open girls school team), she also teaches a class in community and family studies, which focuses on different groups in society as well as family units, parenting, the individual and employment.
“I think the most important thing I learnt last year was to be flexible an d t o be patient,” Dimity says.
“When you’re teaching PDHPE, unlike maths or English, you don’t have advanced classes, so there’s a real mix of students when it comes to literacy levels an d t hings like that.”
While sport plays a big role in her teaching career, Dimity’s family have also had a part to play. One of her aunts is also a teacher while another is a librarian, and her mother is a school assistant.
“I think the most rewarding thing about my job is probably seeing when the students have really understood and learnt something new,” Dimity says. “And, of course, getting to be outside playing sport!
“We had some really good HSC results last year. I tutored some students who did really well, which was great.”
For other young people contemplating a teaching career or who are presently studying, Dimity has this advice:
“Get in there and really have a go,” she says. “It’s a really rewarding career.”
Comments are closed.