So why are you applying for this position?

I smiled and sighed at the same time.

It’s been a bit of a ride. For most of my career I’ve been in mainstream classrooms. Schools that were full of energy, great people, and big expectations. But over time, the noise, the constant pressure, and the endless cycle of assessment wore me down. Teacher burnout crept in quietly, and before I knew it, it had me.

Then in 2021, I had my daughter, and everything shifted again. My thick teacher skin softened into something different. My empathy grew deeper, my anxiety louder. I’d stand in front of 25 little faces and wonder how on earth I could do more than just teach them to line up neatly and follow routines. How could I help each of those gorgeous personalities shine?

That’s when I tried something new. The itch to create my own small business wouldn’t leave me alone, so I started running playgroups. It was beautiful in so many ways. I got to spend precious time with my daughter, meet amazing families, and weave play-based learning into community. But the reality was tough. It wasn’t financially sustainable, my little girl missed routine, and I realised quickly that this wasn’t going to replace teaching. Still, I don’t regret it. It gave me lessons and connections I’ll carry with me.

So here I am again, looking at where to go next. Do I step back into mainstream classrooms, knowing how heavy it was on me? Do I return to early childhood, where I began, but risk stretching myself too thin with my own toddler at home? Or do I get brave and try something different?

That’s what brought me here: to Special Education. It feels like a place where I can slow down enough to really see each child. A place where my empathy is an asset, not a weakness. A place to use my curriculum knowledge and my love of play-based learning in meaningful ways. And maybe even a place to rediscover the fun of teaching again.

I don’t know if this is the final stop on my teaching journey, but I do know this: I’m ready for a change. And I’m ready to find the spark again.