Writer, casual primary school teacher and now student by weekday; mum and wife by nights, weekends and holidays… na na na na na na na na – Mrs Simon! But, please, most folks call me Marika.

My superwoman backstory is fairly simple – born, raised and educated pre-CSU in the United States of America, I met and married an Aussie and moved to Sydney in 2000, just in time for the Sydney Olympic Games. I have been approved to teach in New South Wales since 2002 and have worked casual relief and on long-term temporary engagements in primary schools with time off for good behaviour…aka having children (about 4 years out) and moving back to the USA temporarily (3 years out). For the past several years, I have also been writing Teaching Guides for the School Magazine published by the NSW Department of Education. I currently live on the Lower North Shore of Sydney with my husband, my two children who are in high school and my black Labrador Rose.

In 2018 and 2019, I am charting a new course and studying to gain my Masters of Education in Teacher Librarianship. To clear space in my life for study I will only be taking casual teaching work between sessions. I hope that you will join in my Community of Practice by reading and engaging with my blog posts. May we find joy in our learning journeys… up, up and AWAY!