Magdalena Williams has had a varied career, delving into everything from carpentry to live music.  She first graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, majoring in Chinese. After working in bilingual education in Taiwan for a number of years, her passion for inspiring students and cultural exchange carried through to her studies for a Bachelor of Teaching in English as a Second Language and Humanities. Her teaching philosophy is based around mutual understanding and questioning, believing that all students have the capacity to excel and create in their field of interest. She is passionate about cross-curricular projects, and encouraging students’ positive engagement in the world around them. At her current school, Cheltenham Secondary College, she has been instrumental in the development of the Environment Team, and supporting community engagement in sustainability. She continues to teach in the English department while managing the school’s International Student Program. She is a passionate local activist, and is regularly involved in marine debris, local waterways and local council actions. Her other passions are writing and music, and immersing in nature whenever possible. She lives in Melbourne in the company of her three children, a cat, a dog, and a garden.