In profile: Donna Proctor

Can you tell us about your role and current projects?

I began working at Radford this year and currently teach Year 1.

What do you like best about your current role?

When teaching Year 1, I witness my students’ pure passion and love of learning each day. It’s wonderful to see those ‘aha moments’ when students make connections, when they master a skill or when they encounter a new topic that interests them. In the early years, you see so much growth in learning across one term and it’s nice to be a part of that. Teaching Year 1 reminds me that sometimes the simplest things, like a tiny grasshopper unexpectedly hopping into the classroom, are part of life’s little treasures.

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

For the last three years I have been living in Sydney and teaching at The Scots College, an all-boys school. I took a seven-month period of maternity leave when I had my son, Remy. Being locked down with a newborn and my parents turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I had more help at my fingertips than I could have ever imagined. Prior to that I enjoyed teaching in London and San Francisco at various independent schools and loved travelling to new countries or states frequently. Some favourite memories are hiking Twin Falls in Yosemite, travelling Corsica by a boat and getting married in Positano. At the beginning of 2022, my husband and I made the decision to move to Canberra where we currently spend most of our time looking for a new home!

What do you enjoy outside Radford?

I enjoy any chance to get outside and move. Being able to walk or run around the lake is certainly a bonus about moving to Canberra. Taking my one-year-old son to the beach is enjoyable as I love to watch his reaction to the waves. Borders permitting, I love travelling to towns or cities in Australia to experience something new.