Gabrielle Bodor

Life before Stowe

Having lived in Australia my entire life before I started at Stowe in September of 2022, I had been teaching English and History in Australia for three years. I trained as a teacher at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney, and worked both rurally and in the South of Sydney. Prior to training as a teacher, I worked in the Australian Fashion Industry as a seamstress and patternmaker for a number of local and international brands.

What do you enjoy most about your subject?

I love being able to combine my love for literature with exploring big ideas with young people who are exploring the world in their own way for the first time. Literature opens up the opportunity for pupils to engage in healthy debate and discussion around topics both old and new, and explore a variety of experiences without having to actually step outside of the classroom in the moment. Seeing pupils experience new texts and grow to love reading, particularly when they finish a book and are desperate to come and tell me all about it, makes me so excited to continue to model a love for reading and English.

What do you enjoy most about Stowe?

Working in a community environment where pupils are able to experience life together with their teachers is one of the things I most love about the boarding school experience of Stowe. Having access to such beautiful grounds in the countryside, but being so well connected to centres for the Arts and Sport is also such a huge positive about working at Stowe.

What is your favourite Lesson?

My favourite lesson is the finale of our poetry unit where the class competes in a Jeopardy style quiz about the poems we have been studying over the course of the Term. Part of the lesson results in the pupils having a few minutes to prepare and present their favourite coursework poem in small groups, creating a dramatic representation of the themes and events. It is always a great way finish the unit and implement some long-term memories of the poems, and pupils often tell me it’s their favourite way to remember the events of the poems.

What do others say about you?

I think others would generally comment on/query why I left sunny Oz for rainy England! It’s an ever-developing story.

Other hats

I am a Fifth Form Tutor and I also coach girls’ Netball and Hockey across the year, as well as working as a Duke of Edinburgh assessor.

Passions

Other than reading, some of my passions include getting out into the grounds for a run or going for a bike ride in the local area at the weekends. I’ve been exploring more of the UK since arriving in 2022 and love to travel during half-terms to different counties and countries. My pupils will also tell you that I love house plants, and that my classroom is slowly turning into a mini jungle!