Australian Educator Visits GPS for Two-Week Faculty Exchange

This spring, GPS was honored to host Mary Komselis, a passionate early-years educator from St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane, Australia, as part of a two-week faculty exchange program. Her visit served as a meaningful opportunity for both professional growth and international connection, underscoring the global nature of education and the shared mission of empowering young women.

Mary, now in her fourth year of teaching, has spent her entire teaching career at St. Margaret’s, where she teaches Prep/Foundation, known in the U.S. as Kindergarten. “I feel grateful to have taught the first formal year of schooling to girls,” she said. “It’s such a formative year, and seeing the growth in all students is incredibly rewarding.”

Eager to expand her practice and perspective, Mary jumped at the chance to travel across the globe to experience the American education system firsthand. “As an early career teacher, I’m always looking for ways to grow, and this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she shared. “This exchange has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

While on campus at GPS, Mary was struck by the strong relationships among students, teachers, and staff. “There’s such a strong sense of community here,” she said. “Like St. Margaret’s, GPS is centered around a student-focused approach, but the smaller size of GPS offers a unique closeness that really stood out to me.”

In addition to observing GPS classrooms and school life, Mary explored Chattanooga and the surrounding area. She visited The Bright School and St. Peter’s Episcopal School to observe elementary classrooms, and she took in many local highlights, including Rock City, Ruby Falls, Signal Mountain, the Tennessee Aquarium, and even a little shopping at Hamilton Place Mall. She also attended two school productions during her visit—Middle School’s Romeo and Juliet and the Upper School’s Newsies musical.

Reflecting on the importance of global professional development, Mary emphasized how crucial it is for educators to engage with different teaching contexts. “Teaching is always evolving, and we have to keep adapting in order to connect with students and help them flourish,” she said. “This experience not only expanded my teaching practice but also allowed me to build lasting connections with fellow educators.”

As she prepared to return to Australia, Mary expressed heartfelt gratitude to the GPS community. “The staff and students have been so kind and welcoming,” she said. “I’m so glad I was able to meet such wonderful people and be part of this amazing community, even if just for a short time.”