How to Teach Sustainability with Hope

This professional development short-course with Cool Australia was the best I've ever done! It gave me an approach, Hope Theory, which will make teaching sustainability and humane education easier in terms of tackling the big issues and problems in the world which are often completely overwhelming and depressing to think about, let alone trying to somehow fix. Highly recommended!!!

Humane Education Presentations: Professional Development

Recognizing that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders — in business, education, government, social justice activism, and all spheres of public life — Farm Sanctuary is educating young hearts and minds about our modern food system. The natural sense of compassion that many youth possess for animals, combined with critical thinking skills and knowledge of our food system, is a powerful force for positive change. Studies have also shown that humane education has benefits for academic performance as well as student health and development. I viewed 5 hours of pre-recorded informative and engaging presentations for students of all ages. Pictured here is Stanton Steer who now lives a happy and healthy life at Farm Sanctuary.

Professional Development 2021

Along with my regular work as a casual relief teacher, this year so far I've done PD online in Behaviour Management, ADHD and Special Needs, Supporting Students with Anxiety and Depression, and Story Box Library Features and Functionality. I'm also looking forward to a short course about the history of Humane Education, which I'm passionate about... Humane Education teaches kindness, develops empathy, and cultivates compassion toward animals, people, and the natural world. Students gain the knowledge and tools to make more informed and socially responsible choices that counteract real-world problems: Humane Education Coalition; Institute for Humane Education; Heart.

Casual Relief Teaching

Term 2 is underway - I'm excited to be back in the classroom after the holidays! I'm looking forward to using humane education lessons whenever possible, i.e. when classroom teachers haven't left materials they want me to cover.

Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary Humane Education Work

Last year I began an exciting journey volunteering at Edgar's Mission. I started volunteering there as a Farmhand and got the chance to spend time with many rescued farmed animals who I found have unique personalities, just like my dog and cat. I learned that these animals have the same need and desire to live a happy and healthy life as any companion animal, and I became friends with a lot of them! After spending some time there I got to know staff and other volunteers, and connected with Pam Ahern, who is the Founder and Director. I started to do volunteer presentations in schools talking to kids about farmed animals, encouraging them to connect the dots regarding how we treat and use animals that we have domesticated. My greatest passion is teaching youth how to become solutionaries, to encourage them to look at real world problems and to use effective tools to tackle them. Animal farming is a huge contributor to environmental devastation and poor health...Animal product consumption is linked to major diseases as well as being horrifically cruel and inhumane to animals. At Edgar's Mission we tell rescued farmed animals' stories and people come to learn that they are individuals who want to live, not end up on a plate. Our mission is based on this statement: "If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others, why wouldn't we? Here I am with Lucky Stars lamb, Boo Boo calf and grown-up goat, Boots!