Gleeson College has an enduring spirit that sees students return as teachers
Year 12 graduation. It’s a time when most teachers and staff say goodbye to students and send them out on their life’s journey.
But at Gleeson College, it’s not so much a goodbye but more of a “see you soon”.
While many schools across the nation are experiencing a teacher shortage, at Gleeson College ex-students are regularly coming back through the doors to take up teaching roles on their old educational turf. One in six current teachers at the college is an old scholar, with a high proportion of Year 12 students choosing to pursue a teaching degree at university before returning to their previous school.
So what’s the reason for this “Gleeson factor”? One word – relationships.
“The quality of the relationships and the experience students have here make them want to continue to be a part of it, even after they leave,” principal Joe Corbo says.
“I have asked past students who have come back what made them want to become a teacher and work here, and they say it’s because of the great relationships they had at Gleeson.
“They want to be able to give that experience back to young people.”
It’s something to which Grace Napoli and Alex Mullen can attest. Mrs Napoli graduated from Gleeson College in 2004, going on to study a science degree before returning in 2009.
“I always wanted to be a radiographer but I didn’t have the marks for it so I did a science degree,” she says. “At the end I was thinking about what I wanted to do.
“I didn’t want to be a researcher restricted to a lab – I wanted to work with people and share my love of science so I did a Bachelor of Education which was my path into secondary school education.”
After a short stint at another college, Mrs Napoli made her way back home to Gleeson College, where she currently teaches Year 8 maths, science, and faith and living. “I was overjoyed to return and be back in the community to give back,” she says.
“The staff had faith in me and my ability and saw I had the potential to become a giving, committed staff member.”
Ask Mrs Napoli what she recalls about her secondary education at Gleeson College and she says “a welcoming community and a positive experience”. “There was lots to do and be involved in if you were interested. It was a good way for me to flourish and build confidence. I found myself as a person and who I wanted to be – personal qualities like humility, kindness and commitment.”
Mr Mullen is Gleeson College’s newest old scholar teacher, graduating in 2010 and returning in 2023. In that time he completed one semester of civil engineering at UniSA before moving to North Carolina in the US to play college soccer, where he also studied a Bachelor of Science. Returning to Australia to play professional soccer with Sydney FC, he delved into physiotherapy before realising his true passion by gaining a postgraduate degree in teaching.
“The most enjoyable part for me is making an impact on children, shaping their minds the same way my teachers did for me,” he says.
“There are moments I remember of my years at Gleeson that stick with me for life. Knowing that I have that opportunity to do that with students here – that’s the most enjoyable part for me by a long mile.”
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