About the Team
Rachael Best
Rachael has a goal and her goal is to support children in kicking their learning goals. Rachael is the ultimate multi-tasker. She has completed her Master of Teaching degree, and she had coupled this with volunteering as a literacy and numeracy tutor at a local primary school. Rachael has also had explicit training in the Maths-U-See program
As a mother of four kiddos (including twins), Rachael is pressed for spare time. When she does have time on her side, she actively volunteers as a puppy carer for Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs. She is currently caring for a black Labrador called Zula.
Rachael barracks for Geelong because she apparently has a distant relative that played for Geelong in the 1850s. Maybe she’s famous!
Rachael is always in for a good laugh and the children who have worked with her always say how much they love her.
We are so blessed to have Rachael as part of the Lasting Lessons’ community. Rachael is our resident superhero and she enjoys supporting kids in finding their own super powers.
Lily Strnak
Lasting Lessons had been beckoning Lily to join the team since the centre first opened. Lily has supported a gazillion kids both in and out of the classroom with their learning, both academically and socially, for close to two decades in the roles of School Support Officer and Out of School Hours Care Co-ordinator. The kids gravitate to her like little magnets, and parents can't speak highly enough of her. Apart from her integration aide qualifications, Lily has also studied and completed the Diploma in Children's Services. Her training includes having successfully completed professional learning in fostering the Little Learners Love Literacy program.
Lily loves tucking into a good book and enjoys challenging her husband with games she finds on the internet. We think that makes her a gamer, doesn't it? When a spare minute arises, Lily goes camping with her family and friends. Lily's 5-star glamping caravan sure has the WOW factor. When Lily grows up, she wants to become one of those grey nomads travelling this beautiful country. Lily is a rock chick …. she loves a good concert. She is also a speed freak and watches the Formula 1 when it's on. She wants us all to know that she barracks for Collingwood and the Melbourne Storm.
Lily is driven by ensuring that all children be the best they can be. She gets her rocks off on seeing children achieve the 'AHA' moment. This gives her a real buzz and she is feeling blessed that the kids attending Lasting Lessons will give her plenty of those special moments.
Angela Cerra
Angela has over 13 years’ experience working in the children’s services sector, working with multiple children with disabilities and developmental delays, including children with an autism spectrum disorder. She has successfully completed the Diploma of Early Childhood and Care qualification. Angela is very community orientated and has volunteered with several organisations, which include the following: Ardoch, Tennis Australia, and the Australian Red Cross.
Angela starts her day every morning dancing to music with her two daughters, aged nine and eighteen accompanied by her cat on her shoulder. In her spare time, she plays board games with her girls, and doing other fun activities such as exploring Melbourne, and watching childhood cartoons such as Snoopy. Other interests include playing musical instruments, gardening, doing various arts and crafts, learning about science, watching documentaries ,and going to the museum and, zoo.
Her family is blue blood in and out, and they hope to see Carlton bring home the premiership this year.
Angela is very much an animal lover. Her little Charlie was a rescue cat from SCAR - Second Chance Animal Rescue - and has been the beating heart of her family and to all that he has come in contact with. She has previously shared life with a Jack Russell that played volleyball with a balloon, a fish, hermit crabs, a turtle, an Italian/Greek speaking galah, ducks, rabbits, and chicken.
When asked what she enjoys the most in working at Lasting Lessons, Angela says “One of my favourite parts of working with children is watching them flourish and being part of their journey. I look forward to making learning fun and seeing a smile on their faces.”
Harry Grosomanidis
Harry has a teaching qualification from Melbourne University and has taught in several secondary schools. He has also previously completed studies with La Trobe University in adult literacy. His most recent work stint is in owning and operating a vinyl records store called High On Vinyl in Thornbury. How groovy! If you’re nice, he may even give you a discount when you visit his store. If you are even nicer, he will belt out a tune for you. Harry enjoys going to the gym and reading a good book. If you are a Seinfeld fan, Harry is the person to go to. He has a wicked sense of humour and is a trivia guru. Harry is a voracious reader and has one of the most eclectic and interesting library of books I have ever seen. If you hear him yell out, “Go the Tigers” don’t blame me! Ask him to show you a photo of his dog, Stella. She is the cutest thing. When working with the kids, Harry says, “I enjoy getting to know the students and learning about their hobbies and interest so that I can understand them better and include these insights into their lessons”.
Joanne Shiells
Equipped with a Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) qualification from Deakin University, Joanne has spent a number of years supporting the diverse needs of young learners, predominately in English classrooms. She has taught English to speakers of other languages, been a Covid-catch-up literacy tutor, a high school English teacher and a NAPLAN writing marker. In a former life, prior to teaching, Joanne was an editor and writer.
Joanne has heaps of hobbies and interests. Gardening is the big one, but also yoga, sewing, the occasional hit of golf, reading books, the weekend newspapers and magazines, singing in a choir (and in the shower), browsing in op shops, cooking, practising her Italian, binging quality TV and talking too much. She likes to potter in the garden, laze in her hammock with a book, compete with her kids to see who can win the Wordle the fastest, and travel to beautiful places, especially beaches at sunrise or sunset. She also writes book reviews of adults and children’s books.
When it comes to the footy, Joanne barracks for the Geelong Cats.
Her best pal is Charlie, a Sheltie/Cavalier mashup, who’s always right by her, stuck like glue! She also has some (slightly neglected) pond fish.
Joanne wants us to know, as an English teacher, she saw too many students fall through the gaps, or who needed that bit of extra attention and support. She is keen on investing the much-needed time to help kids fly, believe in themselves and their abilities, and learn to love learning and all the doors it can open. Joanne is really enthusiastic about spreading a love of stories, books and words with young learners and cherishes getting to know them and their families.
Joanne says Ciao to all. Hey, she may even teach you an Italian word or two!