When asked to describe Mrs Jane Lilley, Radford College staff agree she is someone with a heart of gold. This year marks Mrs Lilley's 15th year at the school, where she is one of our most dedicated and respected employees. The Head of Year and Secondary School teacher is known for going above and beyond, fostering strong connections with students and parents alike. In the classroom, her unique experiences - from fieldwork in the Amazon to beekeeping - bring subjects like geography and global studies to life. We recently sat down with Mrs Lilley to find out what she loves about her role and what brought her to Radford. Mrs Lilley’s journey to the College is as remarkable as the subjects she teaches.

How long have you been part of the Radford community, and what roles or responsibilities have you held during your time here?

I have been a part of the Radford community since 2011. Throughout this time, I've held a range of roles: parent of two students; wife of the P&F President; teacher; Head of Year; mentor; group tour leader (to Timor-Leste and Central Australia); and Head of Boronia House. Additionally, I have served as the choir manager for Vox, Chorale and Camerata, as well as managing the debating and softball teams. I’ve also convened several Radford Fete stalls, including the Tornado Potato and Devonshire Tea Stall, and have worked as an Art Sales Assistant at the Radford Art Show, which is coming up soon!

What initially brought you to Radford?

I initially came to the College in 2005 to complete the practical component of my teaching degree. At the time, I had a ten-week-old baby, Molly, and had requested my university place me at a school close to Molly's carer, her grandma. I was mentored by former maths teacher Mr James Hassall, who is married to English teacher Mrs Sue Hassall. James kindly arranged a space for me to feed Molly, who came to school each day during my placement. I found Radford to be a very welcoming environment where like-minded people with a passion for education worked. It was my experience as a prac teacher that cemented my resolve to work at the College.

You teach maths, geography, religious and values education, global studies and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme’s global politics, and you're also Head of Year 8. What do you find most rewarding about your role?

One of the things I treasure most about my role is that no two days are the same, despite working to a timetable. There are so many decisions to make, and I do a lot of thinking on my feet. I relish the opportunity to work with students and their families and how my rapport with them evolves from a more formal connection at the beginning to one that feels like a partnership or even a friendship towards the end.

I also enjoy the strategic planning involved in working with teaching and pastoral teams to develop challenging programs that ensure students feel supported.

Finally, moving through the College with a year group provides the opportunity to work with a huge range of staff, on a variety of projects specific to each year level.

How did you come to teach such a diverse range of subjects?

I always taught maths and geography, but when senior geography's popularity declined, I shifted to teaching global studies and global politics. These subjects focus on creating an awareness of the interconnectedness of the world and encourage students to think about their place within it. There’s something fulfilling about watching students develop a broader perspective.

Relating course content to real-world issues makes learning more relevant and meaningful. In subjects like mathematics and religious and values education, these connections show students how their studies are deeply intertwined with the world around them, sometimes in unexpected ways.

On a different note, when my daughters attended a Waldorf/Steiner-inspired preschool in the US, I worked as a substitute teacher, giving me experience even in a pre-kindergarten setting!

How long have you been a teacher, and what led you to choose this career path?

While I trained to be a teacher in 2004-05, I didn’t kick off my teaching career until 2011. After initially deferring from engineering because I decided it involved too much physics (sorry Dr Peppler, Ms Reed and Mr Bristow!), I switched to a science degree majoring in maths. I also took second-year environmental geography, which sparked my interest in fieldwork. I gained work experience in environmental education, working with outreach programs like Landcare and Waterwatch, and later moved into project management. While rewarding, I realised teaching was my true passion.

What are some of your interests or hobbies outside of Radford?

I wish I could say that I’m an apiarist. I own a flow hive but have unsuccessfully populated it with three colonies over the past five years. In total, I have harvested about ten litres of honey.

I love being outside. I play hockey, dabble in a bit of yoga and, when I have time, enjoy bushwalking. For me, spending time away from technology is a luxury.

People would be surprised to know…

While looking for one of my first professional jobs, I answered an advertisement that led me to spend three-and-a-half months living in a tent doing wildlife surveys in the deepest darkest part of Peru, AKA the Amazon basin (I think this may contribute to my fondness for Paddington Bear!). The wildlife was incredible, and I made some lifelong friends.

I'm also one of nine children!