[Videographer]
Was there ever any thought that you'd be in it for 55 years?
[Laureen Walton]
No, absolutely not.
I'm Laureen Walton. I've been in education for 55 years, would you believe?
And um, I've loved every minute of it.
The only choice we had in the country was you, you teach, you work in a bank or you're a nurse.
They were the basic three things that you had choices of.
So, I decided to become and teacher, and I remember I, I found the first appointment notice, which said, congratulations on your appointment. You have a remedial class.
Fancy saying that today a remedial class of grade ones and threes, and you'll be next door to the principal's wife, the classroom next door to the principal's wife who was checking up on this inexperienced person, I presume. So that was a bit of fun.
So now absolutely a lot of changes. You know, we had one class, we had the doors shut here at Sandy East, we've got doors open everywhere.
We've got flexible learning environments because the classroom doors are open.
That means teachers can talk to each other, work together, a lot more collaboration and a lot of fun. It's always been fun.
So, Jeremy Yelland was one of my students back in 1990, 33 years ago, which is pretty amazing.
And we did a parent tour and I saw the, the name on the list and thought Yelland, I wonder. So yes,
it was Jeremy that I taught back in prep 33 years ago. So now we have his child here at our school.
[Jeremy Yelland]
I remember the first week really well. And I remember, um, Mrs Walton being a very caring and welcoming, uh, prep teacher.
I remember her being a very big part of the Hampton Primary School community and the wider Hampton community. And that sort of permeated onto the Sandy East community as well.
And that's why we love, um, Ayson and being here.
[Laureen Walton]
So, becoming a teacher, you have to be flexible to be able to be working with all the community.
So, whether it's the staff, school council, whether it's builders, architects, it's just about being innovative and, and just enjoying life with the kids and having fun.
What keeps me coming back? I'm a terror for punishment maybe. I love seeing the kids develop. I love seeing the kids learn.
There's always challenges. There's always things to keep you going.
And if there wasn't, um, I wouldn't be here.
Updated