Teaching wasn’t Jonothan Brayshaw’s first calling, but the more time he spent in classrooms, he couldn’t deny his passion for the job.
After initially working in marketing, Brayshaw had a desire to engage with young people, completing his Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in 2013. This stepping stone led him to teach at Pacific Hills Christian School in Sydney for 5 years, but he would soon expand his horizons further, teaching in Canada for two years.
Married to a fellow educator, Brayshaw is surrounded by those looking to make a long-term positive impact on the next generation of leaders. After all, his experience has helped him understand the unique challenges faced by high schoolers who are embarking on a critical leg of their education journey.
Brayshaw is now bringing his devotion to education to his new role of Head of Secondary at Australian Christian College (ACC) Marsden Park as he looks to continue shaping a culture of care and learning within the community.
Below, The Educator speaks to Brayshaw to learn more about his journey to becoming an educator (and what he loves most about it), how he’ll apply his international teaching experience in his new role, and his plans for growth in Marsden Park’s secondary school.
TE: Can you tell us about your journey in becoming an educator and what you love most about it?
When I graduated from secondary school, I completed a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology, Sydney, in order to pursue a career in marketing and sports management. While gaining experience at a media company & smoke alarms business, I discovered that my favourite part of the week was leading a youth group at my local church every Friday evening. Having the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of teenagers is what led me to retrain as an educator. I’ve since been involved in education for the past 10 years, working in a number of roles in Middle and Senior School contexts. What I love most about being an educator helping students discover their gifts and how they can be used to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
TE: How will you be applying your international teaching experience in your new role at Australian Christian College (ACC) Marsden Park?
These experiences have included visiting schools in India during a short-term mission, and teaching in a school in Vancouver, Canada, for about two and a half years. Each of these opportunities exposed me to diverse cultures, different pedagogical approaches, inclusive learning environments and various social factors. My experience in Canada was significantly shaped by living overseas during a global pandemic, which taught me valuable lessons in resilience and tenacity. These life experiences have helped me to develop my understanding of the challenges students face, and the paramount importance of student wellbeing in education.
TE: Looking ahead, what are your plans for growth in the secondary school at Marsden Park?
It is a joy to serve at ACC Marsden Park. In my role as Head of Secondary, I lead and manage the organisation of Secondary School. This includes shaping a culture of care and learning, student wellbeing and behaviour management. Ultimately, that means I have the privilege of ensuring that our students are well known, well loved and well taught. As the College continues to grow, two important priorities I am committed to include knowing our students by speaking to them and observing the learning that takes place in and outside of the classroom, as well as working on projects that help foster a safe and positive learning environment in Secondary School.