Spotlight on Mrs Gray

With all six HSC Textiles and Design students being nominated for inclusion in the SHAPE showcase in 2025, we sat down with their teacher Michelle Gray to discover her secrets of teaching success.

How long have you been teaching Textiles and Design and what has changed over the years?

I’ve been at NBCS for 10 years, but I’ve been teaching Textiles for over 50 years. Up to 15 years ago, the students’ major works didn’t go off site to be marked by NESA. Now that they do get marked outside, the major works have become more important, and the student folio is a huge part of it all.

How did you get into teaching Textiles?

I wanted to study fashion design, but I didn’t think I was good enough. I made a decision to go for it anyway. That training at TAFE was the hardest I ever worked in my life. We worked every day from 9 to 5, making clothes, doing pattern making, being creative. My mind never stopped. I did some post grad study at UTS later. I’ve taught at TAFE and different schools, and had some years in the industry as well.

Where do Textiles and Design students end up?

I’ve had students who end up working in fashion design. We’re lucky in Australia. You can actually work in the industry here and do it brilliantly. More of the students do something different, like interior design, or even space engineering and mathematics. What they learn in Textiles is to manage a process and a timeline and understand how to get from one point to the next. It’s not like building something and then putting a next level on it. A lot of little pieces come together quite suddenly. It’s as if there’s a magnet pulling them all in.

You’ve had six students nominated for SHAPE this year. That must make you an outstanding teacher?

I’ve had a student nominated or selected for SHAPE or TexStyle every year that I’ve been at NBCS. This class is arguably the most successful cohort. To be a good teacher, you have to know everything and you’ve got to love what you do. I have a real passion for this. I love teaching Textiles and Design, and I feel like I’m so lucky to be working at this school with such amazing teachers who work to support you. When you get that kind of energy, you want to do more!

What makes a good student of Textiles and Design?

Drive and energy. Students who select Textiles or subjects like it are inspired by everything around them. And they’ve seen what students before them can produce, so they’re inspired by the quality of the work. As soon as they get into Years 11 and 12, they’re all so excited and they just work. It’s really lovely.

Do you feel like you ever have a student who surpasses you in creativity or skill?

All the time. It’s amazing what they do.

 

Images: Major works by the 2025 HSC Textiles and Design students, pictured above with Mrs Gray. All six were nominated for inclusion in SHAPE.