Staff Story

Even as a Year 10 student, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I was sure I wanted to teach Design Technology. The teachers I had then were so inspiring to me. I saw what they were doing and thought: “I want to do that.”

I love working with my hands. Timber is probably my speciality. As a teacher, I love helping students find the aspects of Design Technology that appeal to them. For some students, the workshop is the place where they really thrive, and they can design and create an object that’s truly impressive.  

I get so much enjoyment out of seeing how each student tackles a design challenge. I might know how to make something, but it means more to me to see how different one student’s solution will be from another’s.

I had great experiences working with boarders when I was teaching overseas, so taking on a role as a boarding tutor at Melbourne Grammar School was a natural fit. I’ve started running weekend workshops for boarders who want to improve their skills, and we’ve also set up a 3D printer in the boarding house for students to try out.

We also make objects that have a real-world role. For example, with the Year 10s in my boarding tutor group, we’re planning on making a coffee table for our House room. I’ve also worked with students to create a world map, laser cut from cork, which now lives in the boarding house. The boarders are using it to pin up their picture and show which part of the world they come from.

It’s been wonderful getting to know the students more than I would as a classroom teacher. The boarding community is like a big extended family.

Alongside teaching and my boarding tutor role, I’m also involved in basketball and volleyball coaching, and I run Design Technology professional development workshops for teachers from other schools as well.

One lunchtime a week, I make sure I’m in the workshop so any student can come in and work on their own projects under my guidance, even if they are not formally studying Design Technology at the time. I live and breathe teaching, so I want to take on every opportunity I can.

What I love most about Melbourne Grammar is how interested the students are in learning. We have a culture here that allows us to get the best out of everyone. Of course, the facilities we have here are also amazing. We get to use industrial-grade equipment, so if a student comes in with a really grand idea, we can probably make it happen. But it’s the sense of community that’s really special.  

Steph Porrino holds a Bachelor of Technology Education from Griffith University. She has worked in government and independent schools in Australia and overseas since 2008 and came to Melbourne Grammar in 2018. She was appointed Head of Design Technology in 2023.