Board Member - Jade Turner

Visual Arts Teacher | St Michael’s Grammar School

Jade is an international educator with a profound passion for early childhood and primary education, particularly in the realm of visual arts. Throughout her teaching career, she has been dedicated to fostering creativity, connection, and a deep respect for the imaginative capabilities of children. Jade is a member of the arts teaching team at St Michael’s Grammar School and has experience working across both the public and private sectors in Melbourne and the UK.

Her pedagogical practice is deeply rooted in the belief that relationships, whether between individuals, their learning, or the environment, are crucial in nurturing and inspiring creative pursuits. Jade champions the idea that children have the right to learn in beautiful spaces where their imaginations can flourish. As a facilitator and nurturer of imagination, she teaches with compassion, empathy, and curiosity, always striving to create a harmonious blend between the arts and cross-curricular inquiry. She believes that to truly understand art, we must also seek to understand the world around us.

Jade’s approach to education centres on the joy of visual arts and its processes, which she considers essential to children’s development. She views her students as capable co-constructors of their education, whose voices deserve respect and whose ideas should be celebrated. Her philosophy is grounded in empowerment and inclusivity, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment for both students and teaching teams.

A qualified early years and primary teacher, Jade holds a special interest in embedding First Nations perspectives into her teaching. She actively engages with the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Framework to ensure these perspectives are meaningfully integrated into the curriculum. Her personal arts practice focuses on illustration and design, particularly for children.

Aspiring to join the board of Art Education Victoria, Jade is eager to share ideas and continue learning from others in the field. Her journey as an educator is marked by a continuous pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to inspiring others through the transformative power of visual arts.