Teaching through life with Lisa

In this episode, Debbie sits down with Lisa, a passionate and energetic PE teacher with over 25 years of experience in education. Lisa shares her journey into teaching, a path that began almost by accident, and reflects on a career that has spanned PE, health, technology, food and fabrics. Her love for learning, people, and practical, hands-on teaching shines through as she talks about the value of reflection, adaptability, and staying curious.

Lisa also opens up about navigating motherhood alongside teaching, returning to work part-time, and finding balance during different seasons of life. She speaks candidly about time management, well-being, setting boundaries with work, and the small habits that help her recharge, from reading before bed to prioritising what really matters.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that careers don’t have to be linear. Change, growth, and new opportunities can arrive when you least expect them. Lisa shares thoughtful advice for teachers considering a shift in roles, stepping back for family, or trusting their gut when it’s time for something new. An honest, encouraging episode for educators at any stage of their journey.

Hosted by Debbie Ross
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or to chat, please email: nurturingeducators@gmail.com or visit  www.nurturingeducators.co.nz

Thanks for listening! 

Transcript

Debbie: Okay, so welcome! How are you doing, Lisa?

Lisa: Yeah, good, thank you.

Debbie: Great. Thank you so much for being on the podcast today. Would you just like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Lisa: Sure. I am a PE teacher. I have been teaching PE for most of my teaching career—I think it’s been 25 years now.

Debbie: Amazing.

Lisa: Across that time, though, I’ve also taught Tech. I’ve taught DVC (Design and Visual Communication) and all of the food and fabric side of things under Technology, as well as Social Studies and Science in Middle School.

Debbie: Wow!

Lisa: I love teaching across the curriculum. I’m back to teaching PE now, but I love the fact that Health has become a major subject within PE, so I still feel like I’m teaching cross-curriculum within my own department. I’m still loving teaching after all this time. I’ve been a mum now for 10 years—Louis is 10 and Ella is about to turn eight. I’ve been part-time since having the kids, and that was an awesome chapter. Being able to teach as well as be a mum... but that chapter has now finished.

Debbie: Back to the real world!

Lisa: Back to the real world. A different world, a different chapter. You learn a lot being a mum. I think I can do a lot more in 20 minutes than I ever could before I had kids!

Debbie: Yeah, multitasking!

Lisa: Constant tabs open in your head! But I’m quite excited now to get my teeth back into something and use a different part of my brain again. I think in life, it’s continual growth. Self-reflection is just what happens on a daily basis and you just go forward. My life is situational learning, right? So yeah, I’m excited and ready, but looking forward to a summer holiday in between.

Debbie: Oh my goodness, yes. It’s been a year, hasn’t it?

Lisa: It has. The tank is low, but I’m ready for a break and some quality family time and friends.

Debbie: Awesome. Recharge those batteries.

Lisa: Definitely. My battery needs a recharge.

Debbie: So let’s start at the beginning. What made you want to become a PE teacher in the first place?

Lisa: It kind of happened by accident. I went to uni doing a Bachelor of Physical Education at Otago in Dunedin.

Debbie: Yeah?

Lisa: I didn't really have aspirations to become a teacher; I just really enjoyed sport and how the body worked. The teaching degree kind of came as a bonus. It wasn’t really until my third year when we could branch off into specialist majors. I really enjoyed the anatomy and physiology side of things. Along with that, I randomly started tutoring my housemates in physiology.

Debbie: Awesome.

Lisa: It turned into a bigger network and I realized, "Oh, maybe I should try the teaching gig." Because of the way the Otago degree worked, you could do a conjoint degree—a Bachelor of PhysEd and a Bachelor of Teaching.

Debbie: So was that four years?

Lisa: It was actually five.

Debbie: Oh, wow.

Lisa: Yeah, five years in the end. It was run through the university, not the teachers' college. They don’t do it anymore, so I feel pretty lucky to have done it. It was a small cohort of about 12 of us together for three years. At the end of it, I got a job teaching only one term at Wanganui College and just thought, "We’ll see how this goes." Then I took on a new role in a different city and went from there.

Debbie: So how was it in those early years of teaching? Were things different to what they are now?

Lisa: Yeah, definitely. I think you learn a lot no matter how long you've been teaching, but the only way you can learn is by doing. Looking back, I think I took things a bit too seriously at the beginning. You eventually realize you can reflect and change. It doesn’t matter if you have a bad day or a bad lesson; that’s just teaching.

Debbie: I think there’s such good advice for new teachers out there—not to be too hard on yourself, eh?

Lisa: Yeah, there are going to be good days and bad days. Just roll with it. If you have the humility to self-reflect and be realistic that no one is perfect, you’ll just keep tweaking as you go.

Debbie: Great. Now, you’re known for your energy and positive vibes. I was talking to some colleagues the other day and we were saying how cool it was to work with you. What do you think has helped you build such strong connections with both staff and students?

Lisa: I love to talk! And it’s always in person. I love a good chat. I make an effort to leave the department office. I’m definitely the one they know not much work happens with during a non-contact period because I’d rather nut things out face-to-face. I feel that everyone has a voice and everyone brings something to the table.

With students, you need to have a clean slate. You can’t hold a grudge. Everyone has a bad day. I think just relating to them, realizing they’re human and letting them see you’re human too, helps. Always say good morning, ask how they are, and find out what they’re interested in. Having a sense of humor they "get" definitely builds rapport.

Debbie: It’s so important to surround yourself with people who support you.

Lisa: Yeah. And no question is a silly question. I’ve always had an open classroom policy. You can come in at any time, observe, or ask a question. Just because I’m teaching doesn’t mean I’m unavailable.

Debbie: Awesome. Now, you've taught a few different subjects. What sparked that transition?

Lisa: That was by accident, too! I was relieving and they needed someone to cover part-time hours in Tech. They asked if I’d taught it before; I said no, but I’m a self-taught sower and cook. I love arts and crafts. A lot of it was trial and error at home. I thought, "If the kids have to do this, I’ll try it first."

I loved it! It became quite addictive—playing with 3D printing software and creating programs for fabrics. Having experience teaching a practical-based subject like PE actually helped with managing resources and keeping a safe environment.

Debbie: What was one of the things you enjoyed most about teaching Technology?

Lisa: I grew a real fondness for Food Tech. I loved that students could create their own flavors and see them transform. I love the "organized chaos" of that environment. They walk in, and by the time they leave, the class is clean, but so much has happened in that small window of time.

Debbie: I take my hat off to you guys; that is chaos! So, let’s go to when you had kids. Was it difficult re-entering the workforce after that time off?

Lisa: I was definitely ready to come back. I love being a mum, but I knew early on I wasn’t a full-time stay-at-home mum. I came back for the connections. I wanted adult conversation!

Part-time worked brilliantly. The kids had the daycare experience, and I was still there for drop-offs and pickups. I’ve actually just stepped down from being the Chair of the PTA for the last six years.

Debbie: Oh, wow!

Lisa: That was awesome because I built relationships with parents and the community. I love a project! It was a way to be involved with the kids while still doing something for myself.

Debbie: What did stepping away from the classroom teach you about yourself?

Lisa: You become much better at time management. You make use of every "non-contact" minute because you don’t want to be doing work at 8 o’clock at night. It gives you perspective. I feel very fortunate that I could go back part-time. You become more appreciative of how fast time goes.

Debbie: You worked with me for quite a few years and then you moved schools. How was that transition?

Lisa: I left my previous school not because I was unhappy, but because the commute was becoming a problem. I resigned without a plan. I’m a strong believer in fate—that things will work out for a reason.

I signed on as a reliever at my new school, and before I even did one day of relief, it turned into a permanent part-time position. It’s five minutes down the road. It’s been a game-changer. I can do drop-off and pickup every day. It’s been the perfect balance for my family.

Debbie: That would have helped your work-life balance! What else do you do for your wellbeing?

Lisa: I make an effort not to do schoolwork every night. I’ve learned to prioritize what needs doing now versus what can be "parked." I’ve started reading physical books again—no more Kindle! My school library does holiday reading packs. Reading is my mindfulness; you have to focus on the book to understand it, so it gets my mind off work.

If a thought pops into my head about work while I'm resting, I just write it in my phone notes to get it out of my brain, and then I go back to my book.

Debbie: Great advice. Have there been any big challenges you’ve had to navigate?

Lisa: I don’t dwell on things too much. If there’s a challenge, I tackle it head-on. Parenting has challenges; life has challenges. Having a child with high health needs—Type 1 Diabetes—is something that continually throws challenges at us. There are times I’ve had to leave work to navigate tech devices or be there for him. But we are a family unit. I’m open with my kids that not every day is peachy, but we can make it better.

Debbie: For a teacher thinking of changing roles or stepping away for family, what advice would you give?

Lisa: Family comes first. Always. Sometimes you won’t get the balance right, and that’s okay. Trust your gut. If you feel you need a change, follow that. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you aren’t "capable" because you’ve been "just a mum" for a while. You learn so many valuable life lessons as a parent that apply to any career.

Debbie: Speaking of change, you’ve got a new role coming up next year! Congratulations!

Lisa: Thank you! The part-time chapter is coming to an end. A leadership role came up for 2026, and even though I thought I had another year or two of part-time left in me, I realized I was ready to sink my teeth into something new. I’m excited to use a different part of my brain and work with a different group of colleagues. Change is good!

Debbie: Well, Lisa, I wish you all the best for that. Thank you so much for being on the podcast today. It’s a great reminder that careers don’t have to be linear.

Lisa: Thank you! I appreciate your time. It’s great to see you again.

Debbie: Take care! See ya.

Note: This transcript has been automatically generated by AI. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, it may contain minor errors or misinterpretations of the original audio.