Michelle Bennett

Experience

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  Queensland Department of Education

  Mar 1986 - Dec 1989

  Managed lesson requirements; planned & implemented subject curriculum, assessment, reporting; providing learner and parent feedback; worked with subject departments; made judgments; tailored programs; supported improved learning outcomes; proficient teaching in all educational settings; adaptability in subject areas. Managed lesson requirements; planned & implemented subject curriculum, assessment, reporting; providing learner and parent feedback; worked with subject departments; made judgments; tailored programs; supported improved learning outcomes; proficient teaching in all educational settings; adaptability in subject areas. Managed lesson requirements; planned & implemented subject curriculum, assessment, reporting; providing learner and parent feedback; worked with subject departments; made judgments; tailored programs; supported improved learning outcomes; proficient teaching in all educational settings; adaptability in subject areas.

  • Classroom Teacher - English, History - Grade 9-11

    Jan 1988 - Dec 1989

  • Classroom Teacher - English, Health & Sport Education, Citizenship Education - Grade 8-10

    Jun 1986 - Jan 1988

  • Classroom Teacher - English, Geography - Grade 8-11

    Mar 1986 - Jun 1986
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  Queensland Department of Education

  Feb 1991 - Jun 1991

  Classroom Teacher - English, Social Science - Grade 9-10

  Managed lesson requirements; planned & implemented subject curriculum, assessment, reporting; providing learner and parent feedback; worked with subject departments; made judgments; tailored programs; supported improved learning outcomes; proficient teaching in all educational settings; adaptability in subject areas.

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  Queensland Department of Education

  Feb 1992 - Jun 1992

  Teacher - English, Computer Studies, Speech & Drama - Grade 9-10

  Managed lesson requirements; planned & implemented subject curriculum, assessment, reporting; providing learner and parent feedback; worked with subject departments; made judgments; tailored programs; supported improved learning outcomes; proficient teaching in all educational settings; adaptability in subject areas.

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  St. Margaret’s Girls’ College - Three Campuses (Education Bureau, EDB)

  Sept 1998 - Aug 2000

  Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) - Grade 7-11

  ESL Teacher, designed syllabus (course documents & teaching materials), English advisor & resource person (for colleagues) Adjudicator & guest speaker at English Drama Festival; co-directed Yr 4 English [day]; trained senior students as Camp Leaders; advisor & guest speaker; co-produced song & dance production: Fruit Salad.

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  St. Mary’s Canossian College (Education Bureau, EDB)

  Sept 2000 - Aug 2003

  Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) - Grade 8-10

  ESL Teacher, designed syllabus (course documents & teaching materials, including phonics), English advisor & resource person (for colleagues), Adjudicator & guest speaker at Drama competitions & debates; organiser of Fly High with English Festival, to showcase drama & poetry; initiated & coordinated Red House Book Club; trained student choral-speaking groups; initiated & coordinated English Learning Centre & English Ambassador Scheme.

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  The Jockey Club Eduyoung College (Education Bureau, EDB)

  Feb 2004 - Aug 2006

  Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) - Grade 7-11

  ESL Teacher, designed syllabus (course documents & teaching materials), English advisor & resource person (for colleagues) & increaser of student interest: initiated & coordinated Learn English Actively Programme (LEAP); trained candidates for Trinity College of London English exams; facilitated the Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) programme from Brigham Young University, Hawaii; organised & adjudicated Halloween Fashion Show, Crazy English Camp & extra-curricular English Club activities; recipient of Outstanding Teacher Award. Show less

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  Queensland Department of Education

  Aug 2006 - Dec 2006

  Teacher - Grade 6-7

  Responsible for co-teaching a combine class of 47 students – most subjects (including Literacy, Numeracy & Drama). Involved planning, assessment, feedback, reporting & tailoring of students to reading groups; NAPLAN preparation; led students in Christmas action song performance for parents; school camp leader.

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  Good Counsel College (Catholic Education Services)

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2012

  English Teacher - Grade 8-12

  Experienced Teacher 6 (ET6) accreditation: leadership role in preparation & implementation of Australian Curriculum literacy modules, NAPLAN readiness & other subject-specific courses; taught pre-tertiary & non-pre-tertiary (Year 11 & 12) English; teacher mentor; leader of staff & students for Optiminds/ Tournament of Minds challenges – Cairns, Townsville & Brisbane; organised excursions; pastoral care teacher; school camp leader.

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  Marist Regional College (Catholic Education Services)

  Jan 2013 - Jun 2017

  English Teacher - Grade 9-12

  Supported English Faculty Head in implementing Australian Curriculum & literacy learning systems, teaching materials, assessment tasks, including NAPLAN (National Assessment Programme Literacy & Numeracy), & ACARA (Australian Curriculum & Reporting Authority) rubric; taught pre-tertiary & non-pre-tertiary (Year 11 & 12) English (English 3, English Writing, English Applied, English Foundations); leader of staff & students for Tournament of Minds challenge; pastoral care teacher; school camp/ retreat leader; Equestrian facilitator. Show less

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  Canadian International School Guangxi Gaojie

  Aug 2017 - Jul 2018

  English Teacher - Grade 11-12

  ESL Teacher & Head of Senior English – 48 Grade 12 students averaged 65.66% in the Provincial Exam, 860 peers in China averaged 54.94%. Responsible for curriculum design, implementation, teaching, assessment, feedback & reporting of British Columbia (Canada) approved courses: 11 English Language Learning, English 11, English Communications 12, English 12. Leader of students participating in Talent Shows. Leader of Film Club.

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  Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School

  Sept 2018 - Aug 2022

  Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) - Grade 7-12

  ESL Teacher: designed Yr 8 Language Arts syllabus, other course documents & teaching materials, including phonics & drama programme for all Grade 7 students; English advisor & resource person (for colleagues); guest speaker at school assemblies; recruited & trained English Ambassadors; organised extra-curricular English Corner activities e.g. karaoke, film, poetry appreciation & board games; recruited & trained students for Battle of the Books competition, public speaking & speech festival; Yr 12 English writing coach; conducted on-line lessons during COVID-19 outbreak; introduced books for English Fridays; assisted Reading Buddies programme; designed and implemented programmes for Experiential Learning Days: Inside Out Poetry Workshop and Christmas Haiku Workshop. Show less

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  Tasmanian Soap Farm Pty Ltd

  Aug 2021 - now

  Founder

  Globe-trotting creative professional, Michelle Bennett (née Contemprée), has been involved in several varied and successful business (ad)ventures. During a year long backpacking sabbatical, she met her husband, Nick, in the kitchen of a 16th century pub in England. Michelle soon became the head cook. The landlady, whom they had christened ‘The Duchess’, cracked a bottle of champagne to celebrate the greatest weekly takings ever under Michelle’s reign in the kitchen!It was later, during a stint teaching English at a Canadian international school in China — her 54 matriculating students scored 10% higher than 800+ similar students — that Michelle realised the only way she was truly going to know what was in the soap she used was if she jolly well made it herself. The soap she had been using had caused the skin on her hands to peel!Michelle’s enthusiasm, determination and resourcefulness saw Tasmanian Soap Farm come into being — back in her idyllic home state of Tasmania, Australia. She harnessed clean, green, pristine elements of the picturesque island to create her unique soaps; each one a little ambassador for good health, the power of nature and the majesty of Tasmania. Michelle experienced unbridled passion and knew she’d found a worthy legacy to build in the next stage of her life: to make a difference to more people’s lives in a positive way. What better place to start? Show less

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  Tasmanian Soap Farm

  Aug 2021 - now

  Soap Farmer

  Ever since I was a little girl, I had a love of cooking. My first book was, 'The Little French Chef'. Growing up, my dad made me cook for visitors. And, when I saw the TV show, 'The Duchess of Duke Street', I knew that I wanted to be like Louisa Trotter, the "Queen of Cooks". The first job I tried for was a chef apprenticeship. I was called back to be a waitress! My life pathtook a different turn and I became a teacher. In 1990, I took a year off to travel. To replenish my funds, I ended up living and working in a 16th century pub as a commis chef in the English countryside. The chef did a runner and I stepped up to fill his position. Later, the landlady cracked a bottle of champagne to celebrate the largest weekly takings ever under my reign in the kitchen. I obviously relished my role, and I was good at it.But I had a teaching position to go back to in Australia. Life marched on. The travel bug bit again, and it saw me teaching in Hong Kong, with my husband and three children in tow. Five years later, I was back in Australia (we escaped to Tasmania after Cyclone Larry destroyed our home in 2006!). Again, travel beckoned, and I had a brilliant year teaching in Nanning, China, then back to Hong Kong. But what about the cooking I hear you ask?During my China stint, I noticed the skin on my hands started to peel from the hand soap I used. I had an epiphany, if I made my own soap I'd jolly well know what was in it. It became my consuming passion. I researched extensively and tested my recipes back in Tasmania, deciding that the ingredients I used would be 100% Tasmanian and 100% natural. I had found my cooking niche at last!I didn't tell you that I met and married Mr Bennett in the U.K.! We met at that pub and found we worked well together (in more ways than one!). He's my numero uno supporter and a firm believer in Tasmanian Soap Farm. I taught him to make soap via Zoom (of course)! He's always been quite a good cook anyway.The future looks bright and rosy! Show less

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  PARKLANDS HIGH SCHOOL

  Aug 2022 - now

  Substitute Teacher
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  Burnie High School

  Sept 2022 - now

  Substitute Teacher