There is a particular moment that Carolyn Pearce never tires of seeing.
A child pauses, looks at their work, and realises they have done something they once thought they could not do.
It might be reading a new word independently. Solving a problem without help. Finding the courage to answer a question in front of the class.
The achievement itself is important. But for Carolyn, it is the look that follows that matters most. The moment a child begins to believe in themselves.
As a Prep teacher at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Emerald, Carolyn has spent 17 years helping children develop the confidence, resilience and curiosity that will support them throughout their years of schooling and beyond.
Recreating a feeling
Long before she became a teacher, Carolyn was a quiet child sitting in a Catholic school classroom.
What she remembers most is not a particular lesson or subject.
It is how she felt.
Safe.
Valued.
Nurtured.
Those experiences left a lasting impression and eventually inspired her career.
“I wanted to nurture that same feeling I experienced as a child in my own classroom,” she said.
Initially drawn to teaching through a love of learning, she soon realised the profession offered something much deeper.
Over time, she came to understand that teaching is as much about relationships as it is about curriculum.
“It is about building meaningful relationships, encouraging children when they doubt themselves, celebrating their achievements and helping them recognise and develop their own unique gifts and potential.”
The moments that matter most
Ask Carolyn about making a difference and she does not point to awards or major achievements. Instead, she talks about everyday classroom moments.
The child who perseveres after repeated setbacks.
The student who finds the confidence to have another go.
The learner who discovers they can solve a problem for themselves.
“I believe I make a difference through the many small moments that happen each day in our classroom,” she said.
For Carolyn, these moments are powerful because they help children recognise their own capabilities.
Each challenge overcome becomes another building block in a child’s confidence and belief in themselves.
Creating an environment where children feel safe enough to take risks, make mistakes and try again is one of the most important parts of her role.
Strength in community
While many of the highlights of teaching happen in the classroom, some of the experiences that have shaped Carolyn most have come from the community around her.
Throughout her career, she has witnessed colleagues support one another through difficult circumstances and challenging times.
These moments have reinforced her appreciation for the strength of a Catholic school community.
“I’ve seen many ways our staff come together to support one another, share the load and remind each other that we are not facing these moments alone,” she said.
For Carolyn, shared faith and a commitment to caring for one another provide strength, perspective and hope when challenges arise.
They also help keep the focus on what matters most: the children entrusted to their care.
Guided by faith
Carolyn’s faith shapes the way she interacts with students every day. She strives to follow the example of Jesus through kindness, compassion, patience and acceptance.
“My Catholic faith, my upbringing and the example of Jesus are at the heart of who I am as a teacher,” she said.
She believes every child has unique strengths, talents and potential. Her role is to help nurture those gifts while creating a classroom where students feel welcomed, respected and safe.
For Carolyn, education is about supporting the whole child, academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
It is about helping young people recognise their worth and grow into compassionate and caring individuals.
Helping children grow into who they can become
One of the things Carolyn values most about Catholic education is the opportunity to support both learning and character development.
“The most rewarding part of teaching in a Catholic school is being part of a community that shares a strong sense of faith, care and belonging,” she said.
She believes Catholic schools provide children with more than academic knowledge. They help young people learn the values of compassion, respect, forgiveness and service while developing a sense of purpose and connection to others.
In a world that can often feel busy and disconnected, Carolyn believes these foundations matter.
After 17 years in the classroom, she knows children may not remember every lesson they are taught.
What they are more likely to remember is how they felt.
Whether they felt encouraged to try.
Whether they felt supported when things became difficult.
Whether they felt that someone believed in them.
Because confidence rarely arrives all at once.
It grows through encouragement, persistence and the quiet certainty that there is someone beside you, helping you discover what you are capable of becoming.