Spotlight on Siena Staff: Head of English, Kacey Pelle

Spotlight on Siena Staff is an ongoing series of short videos and articles capturing the reflections, motivations and advice from some of our amazing Siena College staff. Today, we feature Head of English, Kacey Pelle as she reflects on the transformative moments in education, her journey as a lifelong learner and the unique community spirit that defines Siena College.

What do you love most about working as an educator?

The 'lightbulb' moments occur when you see a student suddenly grasp something they did not understand before. The big-picture moments are obviously wonderful but so are the little ones: “Oh, THAT’S what that means!” I love my job and can talk about books and language all day, but it does not truly mean anything until you see a young person match that energy in real time. Those are the moments teachers live for.

Where did you study and have you completed any further study since your Bachelors degree?

I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Applied Linguistics) from the Australian National University, a Master of Arts (Children’s Literature) from Macquarie University and a Master of Teaching from the University of New South Wales. I have been fortunate to have multiple opportunities for further educational research and study, most recently working as a Teacher-Researcher with the The University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education on a Stella Prize-funded project exploring the role of Australian women’s writing in the contemporary English curriculum – a precursor to a PhD.

What appeals to you most about teaching in a Catholic school?

The emphasis on Justice and serving the community is, of course, present in schools of all kinds, but it is woven especially deeply into the modern Catholic ethos. The presence and influence of St Catherine here is particularly beautiful – a young woman unafraid to speak truth to power as a guiding force is incredibly important in a Catholic girls' school.

Do you remember your first day at work? What was going through your mind as a ‘newly minted’ educator

With horrifying clarity. My Year 11s tried to make me rap Macbeth. I have since happily learned that if students really want to hear Shakespeare rapped, they will inevitably just do it themselves.

What do you think is Siena College’s unique selling point?

I think this is best summed up by a lovely conversation I had at the Swimming Carnival with a Siena parent I also knew from my previous school. She asked how I was settling in, and the way she described Siena was just beautiful – she said the community at Siena 'really wraps around you'. Approaching the end of my first year here, I can say that is absolutely true. It is a tremendous privilege.