Working with ‘educational giants’ in Pre-K
Today, you can find Mr Tim Park in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom on the Preparatory School campus, but if you asked him at the beginning of his career where he would be now, he would tell you that working in a primary school was never the plan.
Working as an Early Childhood Teacher and Educational Leader at a long daycare centre, Mr Park’s career was exactly what he had been working towards, when his sister-in-law alerted him to a position available here at Trinity that sparked some intrigue and opened up a door to a new path in his career.
“After reading the role description, I thought that this would be a great new opportunity and challenge,” he says. Plus, he says he was won over by Trinity’s “high reputation as a School and Christian ethos”.
Now, his days are still focused on giving our youngest learners the best start in their education, it just looks a little different.
“My role is full, dynamic, and deeply collaborative,” he says of teaching 60 Pre-Kindergarten students alongside three other teachers and three teachers’ aides. “Together, we create a learning environment that is responsive, intentional, and grounded in the Reggio and IB philosophies.”
They might be small, but his students are big explorers, discovering things for the first time in every sense – educationally, physically, socially, and emotionally.
“My day shifts constantly from supporting behaviour and emotional regulation, to mediating social conflicts, guiding friendships, and helping boys navigate big feelings.
“I spend a lot of time observing play, noticing emerging interests, and using those observations to shape experiences that build identity, agency, and curiosity.”
There’s never a dull moment in Pre-K; students enjoy small-group and whole-group lessons, they explore indoor and outdoor spaces, they build routines and they take safe risks, negotiating roles in play and exploring everything in the world around them.
Mr Park says he enjoys the focus on helping the young learners foster their independence while “helping each child feel seen and successful”.
Throughout his time at Trinity, Mr Park has been involved with many Co-curriculars, including coaching the Rugby 7s, the Rugby First XIII, and now the Years 5 and 6 Touch Football B team. He says that the opportunities offered to him at Trinity have helped him to contribute in a meaningful way that aligns with the things he values – like staying active.
In amongst all of that, he says that the opportunity he has loved the most was the opportunity to be a part of creating the Programme of Inquiry (POI) for Pre-K.
“Being a part of this has helped me learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and how it engages the student in holistic education.”
And, the support from his colleagues has been invaluable.
“I’ve always said that I feel like I’m working with educational giants and working amongst them I can only be pushed to learn more and become a better educator.”
“The culture at Trinity has been the best. All the staff are here to become better teachers and support each other. We’re pushed to be high performing, but are also supported in our journey to do so.”
As the year rolls on, Mr Park says he always looks forward to the chance to engage with the Pre-K families.
“I am always excited about community days, where parents can join their son at School for open classrooms, picnics, and our end of year Christmas production. Connecting with the families is always a special time because at the end of the day, we all just want what’s best for their son.”
