Every student wants to feel seen, understood, and included, and that's the kind of classroom Sarah Warner is determined to create.
At Bundaberg East State School, she's built a learning environment where different ways of communicating are valued and where students who are deaf or hard of hearing feel included.
'When students feel like they belong, they engage more, are more confident, and support each other,' Sarah says.
'I've seen that especially with the deaf and hard-of-hearing students in our school. They teach me just as much as I teach them, when I get a sign wrong, they are the first to jump in and correct me.'
Sarah first learned key word signing from her mum, who used it to help her express herself as a child.
'I wasn't always able to find the right words, especially when I was overwhelmed,' she says.
'My mum introduced simple signs to help me connect, and that experience never left me.'
Years later, when Sarah discovered there was 1 deaf student and 3 hard-of-hearing students in her school, she was determined to build on that early foundation.
She began incorporating signs into her daily lessons and soon launched an Auslan choir, where students perform the Australian National Anthem using sign language.
What started with a small group quickly caught on. Students from other classes began asking Sarah to teach them signs so they could better communicate with their deaf and hard-of-hearing peers.
'They want to connect with each other,' Sarah says.
'When you give students the tools, they don't just use them in the classroom, but also in the playground, at assembly, everywhere.'
Sarah's belief in creating space for different ways of communicating is deeply personal.
She was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) just 3 years ago, though she says the signs were always there.
'As a child, I was all over the place and just couldn't communicate as easily as other children,' she says.
'I really struggled, feeling isolated and disconnected.'
Without the words to explain how she was feeling, Sarah often felt left behind, an experience that fuels her drive to ensure that no child in her care feels the same way.
'I developed a love of Disney princesses because they reflected my quirky, high-energy personality,' she says.
'Through their songs and music they helped me feel seen when I couldn’t express myself.
'My mum always reminded me of my purpose: to help others find a path that works for them, just as I was learning to do for myself.'
It's a lesson she carries into her classroom today.
The teaching journey—from the outback to the city
Over the past 15 years, Sarah's teaching journey has seen her embrace a wide range of roles across Queensland—from principal of Birdsville State School in the outback, to Success Coach at Shailer Park State High School, to Deputy Principal at Norville State School in Bundaberg.
'Teaching in the bush is vastly different from the city,' Sarah says.
'In rural areas, the sense of community is incredibly strong, but resources can be limited. Every small success feels like a massive win.
'In the city, while resources are more readily available, the challenge often lies in connecting deeply with every student amid the pace and scale of a larger school.
'Both settings have shaped me into the educator I am today.'
Sarah describes being principal at Birdsville as one of the most impactful chapters of her career so far.
'Some of my best memories include introducing more technology to the school by bringing in robotics kits and iPads for every student. It was about creating opportunities,' she says.
'As a success coach in Shailer Park, I worked closely with families to bridge the gap between home and school, helping every student and family work toward shared goals.'
Sarah says she plans to continue developing her skills in Auslan and exploring leadership opportunities that allow her to combine her love for inclusion, technology, and wellbeing.
'No matter where my journey takes me, I'll always carry the lessons of every student who taught me that belonging isn’t just important—it's everything,' she says.
'Like Disney's Lilo and Stitch say: "Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten."'