Supporting teachers to grow in their practice
Coming to Trinity in April of 2025, Ms Natalie Bluhdorn has hit the ground running as the Dean of Professional Pathways.
Working within the Academic Committee, her role gives her the opportunity to work with staff who are growing their careers at Trinity. On an average day, she can be found developing Trinity’s Professional Growth Framework, supporting Early Career Teachers and developing leaders through dedicated Professional Learning Teams, piloting new initiatives, liaising with universities to coordinate Trinity’s Professional Experience students, or supporting Trinity’s Tier 1 and 2 interns and their mentors. If that wasn’t busy enough, you can also find her in the classroom, teaching English.
With a schedule like that, it’s no wonder that Ms Bluhdorn sees the relational aspect of her work as a huge drawcard.
“I love the encouragement to be relational here. The scope of this is so varied at Trinity; whether it’s developing connections with colleagues, partnering with tertiary researchers, or programs such as the City-Country Partnership, learning from peers at other schools, or just simply walking alongside our students as they learn.”
She says that being a part of the Academic Committee has also played into this.
“I could not have asked for a more supportive, professional, encouraging, and warm team.
“The wealth of experience amongst my colleagues has helped me to understand the Trinity School culture – its traditions and aspirations for the future.
“I have also appreciated the professional trust that has been placed in me; I have been encouraged to think deeply about my role and supported to tailor my position to my strengths and research interests. Working closely with, and under the guidance of, Mrs Deborah Williams and Dr Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn has been invaluable and I look forward to learning from their expertise in the years to come.”
This growth focus – for both staff and students – was something that originally attracted Ms Bluhdorn to work at Trinity, as well as the clear mission and ethos of the School.
“Some schools have impressive, verbose mission and vision statements, but I felt that Trinity’s mission was genuine and truly shaped the School at all levels,” she says. “It has always been important for me to work at a place that resonated with my own personal faith as a Christian.
“Trinity allows me to lead from a place of authenticity, anchored in my belief that all children have value and purpose and are created in the image of God.”
As she looks towards completing her first year at Trinity, she says that she’s only growing in appreciation of the rhythms of Trinity life and the legacy of those who have come before in the life of the School.
Currently also completing her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney and with a young family at home, Ms Bluhdorn says that juggling it all can be a challenge but it’s one made easier by Trinity’s culture.
“It is such a privilege and joy to be engaging in purposeful, meaningful work. Knowing that I get to contribute to this learning community is an exciting and fulfilling stage of my career and I am looking forward to the opportunities that may come to support teachers to reflect, refine, and grow their practice.”
