My name is Stephanie Coles, I live in Melbourne, Victoria, and completed my Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Monash University in 2014, finishing with a High Distinction average and receiving a Dean's Award for Academic Achievement in Education. An avid skier and traveler, I am a self-confessed "nerd" with a love of learning, nature and creating through sewing and craft.

Unlike many young teachers, education was not always my dream. I originally began my university career studying a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery with the aim of helping people through becoming a surgeon.

My change of heart began in 2008, however, during which time I worked as a Teaching Assistant and boarding house Gap Student at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls in Monmouth, Wales. In addition to aiding in the preparation and teaching of subjects such as French, Art and Music, I also supervised school excursions, acted as pool life guard, assisted with administration and organised weekend leisure activities for the boarders. This ongoing work with children also lead to further employment as a nanny in Europe and Australia, as well as working for a season as a kids' ski instructor in Japan. 

These diverse teaching experiences and responsibilities eventually came together to inform my decision to pursue a career in education. I realised my true passion and happiest memories lay in working with children and that teaching was important means of helping people much better suited to my personality and interests.

To augment my studies in Primary Education, I also completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Linguistics and minoring in French. This knowledge of language learning and structure has both produced a keen understanding of literacy teaching and confirmed by beliefs in the utmost importance of communication skills in schooling and beyond. Moreover, throughout my time at university I have been lucky enough to indulge my passion for working with young people through involvement in mentoring programs such as the Monash Arts PAL Program and Monash Education Ambassadors, as well as volunteering for Make-A-Wish foundation and the Frankston Hip Cats Youth Circus.

As a growing teacher, I hope for the opportunity to combine my love of teaching, language and travel, working with a range of children to share my passion for learning and continuing my learning in the fields of Education and Linguistics. I am currently working as a Casual Relief Teacher at a number of school on the Mornington Peninsula, and hope to soon have the opportunity to apply my knowledge and advance my skills and experience within my own class of students.