School Staff
Andi Pegler
Teacher
I am privileged to have been part of the Dara team since 2018, when I completed my Masters in Gifted Education and accepted the role of Visual Art teacher. At that time, Dara school comprised of about thirty-five students from Years 1 to 7, and in the following year, I started as the English and Global Studies teacher for a Level 5 to 8 composite class. Over the past few years, I have taught a variety of subjects and ability levels. Currently, I am working in our Junior School team.
Teaching gifted students at Dara means working with each child as their own person. It requires being flexible and, for me, it means building our learning with what the students bring with them. This gives us the opportunity to delight in incidental moments in the world around us, take advantage of class curiosity and personalise our learning. Many lessons are unexpected, shaped by the needs of the learners on that day. My priorities are to nurture each child’s individual sense of self, support their well-being, help them understand and apply through the Dara values, and develop the skills that enable them to drive their own learning, both now and later on in life. Our curriculum forms the signposts that guide our directions. As a community, we are always working towards sharing our love of learning.
In 2024, I completed the certification process for the National Teacher Excellence program, and I am now recognised as a Highly Accomplished Teacher. This career stage recognises contributions beyond the classroom, as well as a high level of teaching across the board. My contributions beyond my classroom have included mentoring colleagues and pre-service teachers, leading the development of the Dara Model for Teaching and Learning, lecturing about gifted education in the tertiary setting, working with colleagues to develop improved practices across the school, chairing our Reconciliation Action Program Working Group, and additional work in the Professional Development sector through AISSA. This year, I have also become the Independent Schools Australia representative on ACARA’s National Gifted Education Network.
“Teaching and learning should bring joy. How powerful would our world be if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks, who were not afraid to think, and who had a champion?” – Rita Pierson. Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson | TEDYouTube · TED4 May 2013