Francesca Dias

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and what were you doing before arriving at THINK Global School?

I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia. After high school, I spent quite a while at The University of Melbourne studying mathematics, literature, computer science, and creative writing; in hindsight, I was quite attached to the learning environment and maybe also delaying joining the workforce. Turns out, being an educator doesn’t feel like work at all to me!

I’ve loved all of my positions so far: teaching in public and private schools, students ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old, in my home city as well as London, New York City, and far north Honshu in Japan. One of the highlights was working with the United Nations School in Manhattan, where the Sustainable Development Goals could be a large focus in my classroom, and I was supported with career goals such as going paper-free.

Sadly, my time there was cut short when a spring break trip home saw me stuck in Melbourne after the borders closed due to the pandemic. I was working as head of maths at a large independent school when I saw the opening for a Math Educator at TGS, and still in pursuit of a workplace that shared my values and pedagogy, I applied, and now I’m living my dream!

2. What do you love most about teaching?

I love being in an environment where the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, skill, and growth is shared by everyone. For me, the art of matching students with the content and delivery that will maximise learning outcomes and a love of learning is like any mathematics problem – I love the challenge!

3. What aspects of THINK Global School’s educational model do you find most appealing?

My most valuable learning experiences have been whilst travelling, so expanding the walls of the classroom to the far ends of the earth makes sense. The pressing dilemmas of our time call for global citizens with knowledge, understanding, empathy, and courage, all of which are fostered at THINK Global School.

4. If you could make one major change to global education, what would it be?

Wider accessibility for students from all walks of life.

5. Describe your teaching style or philosophy. Do you have any unique teaching methods you use to keep students engaged?

I focus my efforts on designing lessons that have content and delivery that is relevant, accessible, and interesting. I’m genuinely excited to share them with students because I know students will find them useful and enjoyable in real life. I think my enthusiasm is also helpful in the classroom; it can be infectious!

6. Tell us about your favorite teaching experience pre-TGS

In general, I love hearing students share what they are learning in our lessons with others outside of the classroom. They might be arguing about unit ratios following our class on the perfect balance of peanut butter to jelly in a sandwich or discussing algebraic modelling after an activity exploring the role of serving size on the nutritional information provided on cereal boxes. This is when I know I have reached my personal goal of relevant, accessible, and interesting lessons.

7. What is your most memorable travel experience thus far?

Japan. I feel more at home there than I have felt anywhere else in the world, including my hometown. Finding a place where clothes fit, the routines match my sense of logic, and my love of all things kawaii is too good to be true.

8. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d love to see as much of the world as I can, and I don’t mind where my next stop is. I haven’t been to any Scandinavian countries yet, so that side of the world may be my next focus.

9. What is your favorite book, and why?

I have a soft spot for canonical dystopian fiction such as 1984 and A Brave New World, but I find Margaret Atwood and Yuval Noah Harari enjoyable for the same reasons: commentary on the pitfalls of humankind. I like some of the classics too – Jane Austen, Gabriel García Márquez and J. K Rowling. I still love picture story books, too, and I get one for my birthday every year. I highly recommend, ‘Not Now, Bernard’.