Jessica Mumford, a Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Coordinator for Laynhapuy School, is one of 22 inspiring teachers across Australia recognised at the 2023 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards, hosted by SchoolsPlus, for their invaluable commitment to students and communities.
In a conversation with NITV Radio Jessica Mumford said she was happy being acknowledged with an Early Career Award, an accolade for teachers that have been teaching for less than 3 years.
She finds fulfilment working in Laynhapuy school whose student population is 100% Indigenous and they have a special curriculum to cater for them.
“We have a strong two-way curriculum. We have a strong Indigenous languages and cultures curriculum that is run and programmed by Yolngu Homeland Centre teachers. Yolngu Homeland Centre teachers help support maths and English programs too,” Jessica Mumford said.
We start every day with a community circle which welcomes students into the classroom, we check in for how they are feeling for the day then we launch our teaching from thereJessica Mumford
Using the Berry Street Education Model, Jessica has developed game-changing resources and training for local Indigenous teachers and Visiting Teachers, so they know how best to work with students, including those who have experienced trauma.
“We start every day with a community circle which welcomes students into the classroom, we check in for how they are feeling for the day then we launch our teaching from there.”
Laynhapuy is a cluster of nine Homeland Learning Centres spread across 350 kilometres of Nort east Arnhem Land, providing education for First Nations children from birth until year 12. English is often one of the many languages spoken by Laynhapuy students.
“When kids turn up to school that is the first time, they use English. The first time they have to use English is when they are learning English, so the support we get from Yolngu Homeland Centre Teachers is really integral to really how we can run school, and really helps us to deliver those programs.”
