I am a Brisbane-based high school English and Drama teacher, writer, and illustrator.

With over 15 years of experience in diverse school settings around the world, I have had the opportunity to hone my skills as an educator who values high expectations, student voice, and teacher agency.

I was a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Teaching awards in 2018 and have worked as a sessional academic at the Queensland University of Technology.

I’m passionate about public education, and my writing often aims to cut through edu-jargon and challenge troubling trends in education that seek to diminish teacher autonomy and student creativity, or that tarnish the professionalism and dignity of teachers.

My side hustle, Bare Bones Teaching, showcases my illustrated character maps and resources that help students to unpack classic literature – from Shakespeare to Austen – and more recently, my YouTube channel is blossoming to include helpful videos for students and teachers in Queensland and beyond about curriculum content as well as teaching.

Twitter: @lustreeducation

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-ralph-a5aab2270/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ORPIg9_BVvBDfU6-In5-A

Teachers Pay Teachers store:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bare-Bones

Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/barebones