I have a unique background for a Head of English. My initial studies were in Science (with Chemistry Honours!) at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

From there I moved into Meteorology, becoming the Naval Training Officer for Meteorology and Oceanography. So my love of teaching was sparked in a windowless room on the Adelaide Class Frigate, HMAS Sydney, teaching a group of aspiring ship’s captains about the weather!

Yet that experience was formative in my decision to study Secondary Education. When it came to deciding on my specialist subjects, Science was the obvious first choice. My second choice was not so obvious. I had sub-majors in Geography and English so I could have leaned either way. I thought hard about my future direction, and I reflected on my longstanding love of reading and literature.

My feeling was that the older I became, the more I found the joy of reflecting on and discussing endless possible interpretation sof characters and ideas in literature. Books energised me in a way that volcanoes and contours, beakers and acids did not. As you may have guessed, I chose English. Since commencing my teaching career, teaching English at a girls’ school in inner Sydney, I have never felt tempted to swap Shakespeare for Einstein (or even allow Einstein to share the stage).

I feel that in an English classroom, we do not simply cover the content of the texts, or build reading, writing and speaking skills. We do much more than that. We explore what it means to be human, we try on other lives, experiences and values and in doing so, we challenge and reform our own. Over the years and in each school I have taught, I have always felt greatly privileged to be a part of this process.

My move to Ivanhoe Girls’ marked a return from many years as a Head of Faculty in the co-educational world back to a single sex environment. I am reveling in the care, community and the desire to learn. I am never happier than when staff or students are excitedly testing out and exchanging ideas on each other. I hope to have a long stay here.

Ms Rachelle Walsh
Head of English

As the Director of Student Wellbeing at Ivanhoe Girls’ I am grateful to have joined a community where relationships and the community are at the forefront.

Recently relocating from Western Australia, I have spent my time in Anglican schools, both all girls and co-education, and have developed a passion for contributing to building supportive and nurturing school environments. I have been involved in a range of co-curricular activities in previous schools, as well as working in a Boarding School for several years.

What I love most about my job is working with staff and students, as well as the greater community to understand what we can do and the role we can play in ensuring connection and belonging for all. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students thrive, reaching their personal bests and working alongside staff and parents to create an environment that is reflective of our values.

I’m excited about what’s ahead at Ivanhoe Girls’ and feel very lucky to be a part of such a beautiful community!

Ms Karlie Payne
Director of Student Wellbeing

My mother was a teacher, and growing up I swore that I would never follow in her footsteps.

After finishing school and completing a year away as a GAP student at a school in England, I returned to Australia to study Interior Architecture. As I stared at the computer screen in a CAD tutorial, it dawned on me that perhaps teaching wasn’t a choice, it was a calling. From that moment, the cloud of denial which had long hung above my head began to clear, and I was forced to swallow my words.

After four years studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) at Australian Catholic University (ACU), I was fortunate to begin my teaching career at Genazzano, an all-girls school. The energy and eagerness of the students to learn and the supportive nature of the College guided my teaching and thirst for new skills and knowledge. I was fortunate to work closely with Mark Mudge, a mathematics guru, who played a significant role in helping me discover my love for teaching maths.

Working at Lauriston cemented my appreciation for girls’ education and provided me with ample opportunities to grow my leadership skills. The collegiality of the staff and love for learning displayed each day by the students continued to motivate me to improve my teaching. After completing a Master of Education, specialising in Mathematics, my family moved to regional Victoria. Working at the local primary school was an enriching experience. Part of my role involved supporting Koorie students with their literacy and numeracy learning. The genuine and sensitive ways the school embedded Indigenous culture into daily life was eye-opening, and it fostered a sense of belonging for all families.

Upon returning to Lauriston after our seaside sojourn, I was ready for a new challenge. The opportunity to step into the role of Deputy Head of Junior School at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School was too good to pass up, and so began a new adventure. At Ivanhoe Girls’ I get to experience the best of both worlds, leadership and teaching, and do what I love – curriculum, supporting staff, teaching, and witnessing the joy that learning brings to our Junior School students each day.

Ms Cate Kalnins
Deputy Head of Junior School