After going through 8200 pieces of chalk, 420 red pens, spending 793 hours on playground duty and writing 303,400 math equations on a chalkboard, Julie Poplin has retired from teaching.
She taught for 42 years, 41 of which were spent at Boorowa Central School, where she saw three generations pass through the grades.
Approximately 1,380 students have passed through the gates. She has completed 31,080 hours as a teacher.
“My favourite experiences are when a student who has struggled with a new concept suddenly has their eyes light up and goes ‘I get this’,” Julie said.
“Other favourites are seeing students help each other to gain understanding, learn a new skill or cope with a challenging situation.”
Julie loved being a part of the Combined Touch and Netball Carnival, as well as her main subject of mathematics.
She learnt many things from students despite being the teacher.
“My other favourite is watching students grow in confidence from year 7 to year 12. Our school leavers are regularly very well grounded and mature students due to the care and support they have received from the staff,” she said.
“I have also learnt the value of repetition and perseverance and that the most successful students are the students who value education, have the right attitude and work the hardest.”
Teaching is more a vocation than occupation for Julie.
“Being a teacher has taught me that every student is different.
They think differently, they learn differently and they react differently to the same experiences,” she said.
“Teaching is about recognising and accepting these differences and adopting your teaching practices to ensure these differences are catered for as you strive to have everyone reach a common goal.”
She thanks the Boorowa community for always being supportive of the school, as this is very beneficial to helping students to succeed.
“When parents work with teachers as partners in their students’ learning, everyone wins,” she said.
She will miss the fellowship of her colleagues and the daily interaction with students.
But not playground duty in winter or the increasing amount of admin work that teachers are expected to do.
Julie and her husband Raymond aim to spend more time with their children and grandchildren, in the garden, reading, doing jigsaws, travelling and spend more time volunteering in the local community.
