Mrs Jill Kydd works on our Flinders staff team in the role of English Specialist (Primary). Jill has been a valued classroom teacher at the College for the past 13 years, teaching across Year 1 to Year 5.
In her role as English Specialist, she supports and challenges students from Prep to Year 6 to build their literacy skills and confidence through our differentiated learning program, Ready For... (read more here).
We hope you enjoy getting to know Jill's background and passion for education through this Q&A profile.
Through your role, how do you intend to support and guide the students at Flinders and the College community?
My goal is to develop a spark for English that drives excitement in both students and teachers alike. I have great intrigue and enthusiasm in this area and I want to play a role in developing confident, creative and informed communicators through engaging, enjoyable and evidence-based learning experiences. The area of English has been a passion of mine for many years, as both a teacher and as an ongoing learner.
Please share your background story.
I grew up in Canberra with three siblings, and this is where my teaching career began. I spent some of my twenties living and teaching in England then finally settled on the Sunshine Coast in 2005 to a far more accommodating climate. I am married and have a daughter, Isabelle, who is in Year 10 at Flinders. We thoroughly enjoy spending time together as a family and exploring all the spoils of the Sunshine Coast.
What have you enjoyed about your career to date?
I have worked in education for the past 20 years, beginning my career in Canberra at a small school of 180 students. I then moved to England for a year and taught in a small village called Stanford-le-Hope. In both settings, I taught within the upper primary year levels. On moving to Queensland, I continued my teaching career at Morayfield East State School where I taught from Year 2 to Year 6. Matthew Flinders Anglican College became my next teaching setting and I have been here for 13 years. During this time, I have taught from Year 1 to Year 5 as a classroom teacher and I now teach from Prep to Year 6 in my current role as English Specialist. I enjoy the challenges and the ongoing learning as a teacher.
What do you enjoy about living on the Sunshine Coast?
I just love how much the Sunshine Coast has to offer. We have the most impressive beaches and waterways that we are able to enjoy all year-round. In winter, we head for the hills to enjoy a wood-fire getaway in the hinterland. When we want a city-fix, we visit Brisbane to enjoy the restaurants, shows, shopping and the cityscapes.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
"Everyone Counts or Nobody Counts."
Who gave you the advice and how has it helped you to grow as a person?
My mother, Jenny, gave me this advice which I think she stole from a series of novels written by Michael Connelly. She gave me this advice as an experienced teacher herself. She held the strong belief that every student counts and we can't give up on any student or assume their capabilities. I have always had this at the forefront of my mind as I endeavour to encourage and support all students in their educational journey.
