EPeeps Bradley Hacker | Teacher Consultant Lead, QLD

Hello! I’m Bradley, a Teacher Consultant Lead based in Brisbane, Queensland. I’ve been living my best EP life for just over 15 months since I sprinted out of the classroom and into the exciting EdTech life! I’ve been fortunate enough to live and work in lots of awesome places before settling here with my partner and our puppy and two step-cats.

After growing up in what felt like a small place, I wanted to do an Alicia Keys (Empire State of Mind) and move to the concrete jungle to be inspired by the big lights. I was fortunate enough to live in Berlin for a semester during university where I fell in love with Dunkin’ Donuts. Then I hopped over to London where teaching students about population pyramids and different types of rocks really wasn’t what they needed but it was the safe, fun environment they craved. It was such a rewarding experience.

After a last-minute trip to Australia in 2017, I instantly knew I had to stay: the beaches, the climate, the lifestyle etc. I’ve basically been here ever since and have had the privilege of teaching incredible students in Sydney and Brisbane. It was at one of those schools that I first used EP.  I was instantly impressed by the platform, but with a lack of training, I very much became one of the teachers I now try to engage with to showcase its true capabilities actively.

When I’m not working, I try to spend as much time out and about as possible, enjoying the idyllic country I now call home. I enjoy travelling and am super grateful that EP has allowed me to visit different schools across the country and in New Zealand.

Why did you become an EPeep?

After being a very passionate, enthusiastic teacher for 9 years, I felt the need for a new challenge as my passion had started to decline but the desire to have a positive, educational impact still remained. I knew that if I left teaching, it had to be the right move and when this opportunity came, I triple jumped at it! My role at EP allows me to have a wider reaching influence on teachers and consequently their students.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I have so much fun going into different schools, working with different contexts, challenges and personalities. It has greatly broadened my perspective and empathy of what teachers face and widened my understanding of subject specific problems. Fortunately, I’m able to present them with a fantastic solution to a lot of their issues!

What are you most excited about?

I’m super excited about going back to the UK to spend Christmas with my family for the first time in 4 years. There are lots of little additions to the family so it will be quite magical to experience a Christmas day with them, unwrapping their Aussie themed gifts. Also, the harsh winter will be different. The past few Christmases have been spent in the swimming pool and at the beach whereas this year will be everyone huddled around the fire, desperately sipping hot chocolate, trying to keep warm. 

How do you prefer to start your day?

I’m quite an early riser so I like to get up, get a good, long cardio workout in (to counter any doughnut induced food decisions later in the day) then chill with a coffee and catch up on the news before being on dog duty and starting work. I find getting up early helps me become focussed quickly so I am definitely at my most efficient earlier in the day. Quite happy with 7am meetings or before school PDs!

Tell us about your pet!

This is probably my favourite question! Monty, or Montgomery when he’s chewing my slippers, is a 7 month old cavoodle with a stunning, windswept, ruby coat. He’s a big chap at 7.5kg for his breed and age. My partner’s hope that he would be closer to 4kg when he’s an adult has long since been shattered. The benefit of his obsession with food is that he has so far been quite easy to train. Now we’re just trying to stop him barking at school children when they walk past our house so any tips are definitely welcome! We also have two Burmese cats who are super fluffy and great lap heaters during winter. I very much identify with them as they just want to lay in the sun. Monty and The Cats (potential band name?) have some way to go in developing a respectful relationship but we are getting there!

Any last words you would like to share?

Some fantastic advice that really resonates is ‘know who you are and apply that to everything you do’. It allows you to be more authentic and from my experience, students and all people appreciate that. It encourages you to create your own path and makes following it more enjoyable.