Written by Stacey Kershaw-Brant

Few people shape a child’s life more deeply than a great teacher, not through worksheets or assessments, but through the way they make children feel seen, supported and capable. This year, one Canberra teacher has done precisely that.

When Finn, a Year 2 student attending a primary school in north-west Canberra, was asked what he would choose as a parting gift for his teacher, he didn’t think of presents. He simply said he wanted everyone to know how nice she was.

“She’s so nice to me… the best teacher on earth,” he said.

For Finn, the magic wasn’t in the lessons he sometimes found challenging, but in the moments that reassured him that he was enough, exactly as he was.

“I like the way she treats kids, especially when they are going through issues and when she checks in quietly when someone is having a rough day.”

He recalled missing the school’s annual Market Day while unwell, and his teacher arranged for a friend to buy him a treat so he wouldn’t feel left out. A small gesture to an adult, a colossal act of thoughtfulness to a child.

Speaking to Ms Kate, it’s clear that this is no accident. Kindness in her classroom is intentional.

“We talk about practising and being kind-on-purpose,” she explained.

“The magical moments are when children independently go out of their way to put into practice the kindness strategies we have learnt throughout the year, and it starts to become a part of who they are,” Kate said.

This is the gentle, unseen architecture that shapes a thoughtful teacher’s work.

Ms Kate explains that all children have tough days, and support can take many forms, such as listening to them, taking a brain break, having a snack, going for a run, playing music, working one-on-one or in small groups, going to a quiet space, or creating cue cards to help express their emotions.

Children rarely remember the finer details of a lesson, but they never forget how they felt in the classroom, especially on the overwhelming days. When asked what makes a ‘good teacher,’ Finn answered with the honesty only a child can offer.

A good teacher, he said, understands that sometimes you can’t always sit still. A good teacher is patient. A good teacher checks in when you’re having a rough day. A good teacher helps you feel calm, not stressed.

“Feeling calmer helps me focus. Feeling understood helps me try. Feeling supported helps me believe I can do hard things.”

And behind this experience is a teacher who loves what she does.

Ms Kate was 23 when she first thought seriously about becoming a primary school teacher, though her dad had guessed it much earlier. She had always enjoyed showing her friends new things, long before she realised it would become her calling.

For her, the privilege lies in knowing she plays a part in how children experience school.

 “Outside of their time with family, they spend so much time at school, and I want that time to be as positive as possible. Watching students grow, in their learning and in themselves, is what keeps me passionate, and I am always learning about my students and finding new ways to support their growth,” she said.

Ms Kate’s proudest moments are not awards or milestones, but the look on a child’s face when they achieve something for the first time. She remembers their discoveries, their joy.

To teach is to stand quietly in the background of someone else’s triumph, and for Finn, those qualities permitted him to be himself. When asked to sum up his time in Ms Kate’s class, he didn’t hesitate.

“I want to thank her for being the best teacher I’ve ever had in my whole life,” he said.

“I feel honoured, and it is the greatest compliment I could get as a teacher. I want all my students to feel safe, confident in themselves, and have fun with their learning, and hearing that makes me feel like I am doing something right,” Kate said.

This story is dedicated to all of the teachers who guide with patience and heart, those who see a child’s potential well before the rest of the world sees it bloom.