Teachers by day, footy players by night

Being role models on and off the field is important to Redcliffe Dolphins players Jaron Purcell and Jarrett Boland, who are devoted to juggling football with their teaching careers.

On weekends they train and play in the Hostplus Cup, before returning to the classroom on Monday to mould the minds of students at Clontarf Beach State High School.

Having started at the beginning of Term 3, Jaron says his first few weeks in front of the classroom have been “amazing”.

“I currently teach Year 10 maths and science, and while I have only been in the role for a few weeks, it has been amazing,” Jaron says.

“I much prefer numbers over words and find it easier to teach as well.

“One of my favourite things about the job is seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when the formula makes sense, and everything just clicks in their brain – it’s pretty special to see.

“But I do want to teach them resilience and let them know if they get the answer wrong, it’s okay.

“There are going to be times in life when they make mistakes, but it’s all about bouncing back and focusing on what is next instead of worrying about what has already happened.”

Jarrett has been at the school a little longer, having started off as a teacher’s aide in 2020.

He says it was his own teachers who inspired him to enter the profession.

“I always loved school – I had good mates, good experiences, and some really good teachers who inspired me,” Jarrett says.

“They made school and learning fun, and that’s what I want to do.

“Being a physical education teacher means I get to be outside and have fun with the kids every day.”

The pair is also involved with the school’s rugby league teams, and even attend students’ games.

With World Teachers’ Day held today (October 25), Jarrett says it’s important to have a day where teachers are acknowledged for the hard work they do.

“I don’t think teaching gets the accolades it deserves,” he says.

“We have the opportunity to mould a lot of kids’ lives and help them become the people they want to be when they grow up.

“That’s something we don’t take lightly – we understand the role we have in their lives, and want to create a fun and comfortable environment for them to thrive in.”

Held annually on the last Friday of October, World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to celebrate and thank teachers for their important role in the community and for the positive impact they have on the lives of students.