Lisa Barnett
Primary School Educator
Teaching Portfolio
I cannot be a teacher without exposing who I am.
Paulo Freire
Freire (2000). Pedagogy of Freedom: Ethics, Democracy, and Civic Courage. p. 87
Welcome to My Teaching Portfolio
Hello! Thank you for visiting my teaching portfolio. As a teacher, I am passionate about creating positive learning environments that challenge learners to explore their world with inquiring minds, develop positive self-concepts, grow inclusive and collaborative perspectives, and celebrate student voice and agency. I bring a rich history of life experiences, education, qualities, interests and skills to my classrooms. Please take a look around this site to learn more about me.
Lisa Barnett
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Health & Wellbeing
Through my background as a registered nurse, I have extensive experience working with individuals, families and communities and have well-informed, culturally safe practices for communicating with peoples of diverse backgrounds and circumstances. I see students in my care in holistic context, and know that supporting their physical, psychological, social, as well as learning needs, is essential for successful learner outcomes. Developing and encouraging student agency and voice, alongside effective social skills, is essential to future individual and community well-being. I teach explicit self-reflection, perspective taking, strengths-based concepts, mindfulness, and growth mindset practices, alongside curriculum-based learning. I walk alongside my students, and develop empathetic relationships, meeting them at their point of need with respect and unconditional positive regard. I have worked as the health and well-being counsellor at teen's and children's holiday camps for 10 years, caring for students and families with diverse needs and circumstances. I have worked in Vanuatu, communicating with, and caring for women and children in remote island communities, protecting voice and facilitating access to support and services. My diverse nursing experiences have helped me to develop as a reflexive communicator assisting me to develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with students, caregivers, colleagues and communities.
The Arts / Music
I started my adult career as a professional violinist and instrumental teacher, performing individually, in orchestras and ensembles, and teaching students and groups privately. In 1993, I developed and trialled the first school funded, stringed instrument program for year 2 students at Scotch College, with the goal of developing a school orchestra. The program was a success and I coordinated with teachers, leadership and parents to further develop individual, ensemble, and instrumental programs, over several years. I have worked at St John's Grammar, teaching in their year 3 strings program, teaching as a private music tutor, and developing and conducting the Pizzicato Strings Ensemble for students who choose to pursue their instrumental learning journey beyond year 3. I have assisted with various ensembles and school performances at both junior and senior school campuses. Alongside my passion for music, I have a deep interest and talent for other visual and performance arts and enjoy sharing this passion with students, to enhance learning opportunities and experiences. I believe that the arts can provide a conduit for developing self-awareness and communication, with significance for lifelong well-being and self-regulatory practices. Research verifies that engagement with the arts can promote higher achievement levels and may be a protective factor for students with disadvantaged circumstances (Arts Education Partnership, 2000).
EXPERIENCE
JAN-DEC 2022
REYNELLA EAST COLLEGE, SA
JUNE-AUG 2021
KATHERINE SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL, NT
2016-2022
ST JOHN'S GRAMMAR, SA
2014-2022
ST JOHN'S GRAMMAR, SA
Intern Primary School Student Teacher
I was awarded an internship placement at Reynella East College in a year 3 & 4 classroom. I participated in teaching and learning activities throughout the school year. I completed a 10 week placement in term 3, and coordinated with year 2 classes and the numeracy development team for my special project.
Primary School Student Teacher
I spent 7 weeks in Katherine attached to a year 3 & 4 class of culturally diverse students, with significant learner needs. During my time with this class, Katherine experienced a lockdown, requiring online learning programming. As part of my professional development, I received training in trauma-informed teaching practices.
Music Ensemble and Instrumental Tutor
During my employment at St John's Grammar, I have worked as a private instrumental teacher and in the year 3 strings music program. I developed and coached the Pizzicato Strings Ensemble, designed to extend students who chose to continue learning in years 4, 5 and 6, and to teach music reading and ensemble skills. I have assisted other musical groups in the school, including choirs, bands and orchestras, and coordinated performances for various purposes.
Literacy Support Tutor
I volunteered twice a week at the school, working with years 1-6 students, delivering intensive, interventional literacy programming under the supervision of the Learning Support Coordinator. Many of my students had significant learner challenges including ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, DEAF, cognitive delay, and intellectual impairment. I taught Multilit, and Heggerty programming, as well as developing tailored programs to support reading participation reluctant readers. My experiences working in this role inspired me to commence my Masters of Teaching degree.
2011-2014
Registered NIC Nurse (RNNIC)
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, SA
As a specialist neonatal intensive care nurse (RNNIC), it was my task to resuscitate, stabilise and care for newborn and pre-term infants with diverse, complex health requirements, and to support and care for their mothers and families. Alongside complex and specialised care routines, my role was to coordinate and communicate with allied staff, nurses, management and community services, and collaborate with other specialists as primary advocate, to ensure the best care plans were actioned for my patients and their families. My role included educating and facilitating for students and interns and teaching new mothers and their families how to care for their babies.
2006-2008
INTENSIVE & CRITICAL CARE UNIT
FLINDERS MEDICAL CENTRE, SA
Registered General Nurse (RN)
Between my children, I worked part-time as a general registered nurse in Flinders ICCU. I cared for patients and their families, supporting critical care and end of life interventions, alongside post cardiac surgery and transplant surgeries. A number of my patients and their families were concurrently experiencing significant mental trauma and in my role as primary caregiver, I ensured that they received holistic care, compassion and unconditional positive regard.
2002-2005
INTENSIVE CARE & HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT
ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL, SA
Registered General Nurse (RN)
On completion of my nursing degree, I was accepted into the Graduate Nurse Program at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Initially, I trained on the Renal/Dermatology ward, but my 2nd placement in the hospital was in ICU, which I loved. After completing the program, I was given a permanent contract with ICU/HDU, where I experienced caring for endless diversity in peoples of all backgrounds, cultures, ages and dispositions. I developed my ability to communicate effectively with anyone, regardless of circumstances, and enjoyed the challenge, endless learning, and hard work that came with the role.
1992-1996
SCOTCH COLLEGE, SA
Instrumental Tutor: Year 2 Violin Program
I was asked to develop a school funded program to teach all year 2 students at the school to play the violin. This was the first instrumental program of its kind in SA, and I coordinated with the school music teacher and leadership to put it in action, with the long term goal of nurturing the beginnings of a junior school orchestra. I worked in this program for many years and saw a successful ensemble develop, with performance opportunities for its students. I also taught private students at the school, taking students well into intermediate and advanced levels of violin performance over time.
1990-2001
SELF-EMPLOYED: MUSIC STUDIO, SA
Violin and Ensemble Teacher
I began teaching violin during my year 12, when I also commenced my violin teacher studies. I taught students aged 3 to adult and my studio was inclusive, with families attending lessons together, and parents actively participating in and supporting the learning. Over the years, many of my students were successful at achieving music scholarships to different SA schools, and achieving honours grades at AMEB levels. I participated as faculty teaching small groups and assemblies of students at special music workshops all over Australia and at music summer camps in the USA.
EDUCATION
2020-2023
Masters of Teaching (Primary)
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY, SA
2012-2013
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certificate
WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, SA
2000-2002
Bachelor of Nursing
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SA
1991-1994
Bachelor of Music (Performance)
ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY, SA
1990-1994
Violin Teacher's Certificate
SUZUKI MUSIC TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
COMPETENCIES AGAINST THE AITSL STANDARDS
Emerging
Graduate
Proficient
Highly Accomplished
Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5 Standard 6 Standard 7
ACHIEVEMENTS
2022 - Internship at Reynella East College
2022 - Golden Key Honour Society Membership
2021 - Chancellor's Letter of Commendation
2016 - Karate Blackbelt Presentation
2002 - Alumni Certificate of Achievement
2002 - Margaret Grace McNair AM Foundation Prize
2002 - Royal College of Nursing High Achiever Award
2001, 2002 - Chancellor's Letters of Commendation
1992 - Dean's Letter of Commendation
INTERESTS
Hanging out with family and cooking up feasts for friends.
Reading Books, especially YA, fantasy and mysteries.
Walking my two standard poodles.
Horse Riding: My favourite chill session once a week.
Any type of art: painting, drawing, pottery, pyrography...
Gardening: It's hard to choose between my extensive pot plant collection, my roses or my veggie garden
Running children's and youth activities for my church.
Holidays and travel: especially to Vanuatu.
Learning Auslan and hanging out with the DEAF community.
Playing my violin, piano or harpsichord.
Listening to my son play flute or cello.
Playing board games with my boys.
'If people are laughing, they are learning. True learning is a joy because it is an act of creation'
Tyson Yunkaporta (2019).
Yunkaporta, T. (2019). Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. The Text Publishing Company.