Mr Darren Kuilenburg is Director of Music at International Grammar School (IGS) in Ultimo. He oversees a vibrant Music Program that spans from Early Learning to Year 12, where music, as a universal language, complements the school’s unique bilingual learning frameworks.
WhichSchool?: When did you commence in your position/role at the school?
Mr Kuilenburg: I began working at IGS midway through 2021, right in the middle of the COVID lockdowns, which proved to be a challenging time for leading a department online. I have enjoyed my time in this role for just over three years.
WhichSchool?: What are the top three highlights you’ve experienced as a teacher at the school?
Mr Kuilenburg: One: It is enriching to be at a school where creativity and innovation are valued and celebrated. This dynamic environment allows both students and teachers to flourish creatively, as evident in the students’ eager participation in the arts. I always enjoy creating with students in the classroom and rehearsal space, fostering their interests and enhancing their skills as composers, musicologists, and performers.
Two: I love that IGS offers a wide range of choices for students in their learning journey, with a curriculum that includes exciting developments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, enriched by languages and music. Programs like STEAM and SAGE allow students to make connections across these disciplines.
Three: Working alongside an exceptional team of arts educators, including musicians, artists, designers, actors, and choreographers, is inspiring. Collaborating with staff who are incredibly passionate about their art forms and who join forces to provide students with enriching opportunities is one of IGS’ greatest strengths.
WhichSchool?: What makes the school different from other schools?
Mr Kuilenburg: IGS is a unique community of learners located in a thriving inner-city area. Here, students and staff interact within the creative surroundings of Ultimo, moving and working in a vibrant warehouse precinct bustling with architects, music producers, graphic designers, photographers, copywriters, journalists, social media marketers, and many others. The location, matched by the school’s emphasis on an Arts-based curriculum, makes IGS a flagship learning organisation for creativity.
WhichSchool?: Why is the school a great place to teach?
Mr Kuilenburg: As an educator, I am drawn to organisations that value the interconnections between different subjects and take pride in offering progressive teaching and learning opportunities. The emphasis on broad liberal education allows teachers to nurture each individual and helps students explore their own talents. This approach not only fosters students’ growth as independent learners but also enables teachers to be their best selves. A curriculum designed within this framework inspires students to grow as creative and critical thinkers and allows teachers to ensure that the curriculum is authentic and progressive.
WhichSchool?: What are some of the challenges faced by teachers in the primary/secondary sector?
Mr Kuilenburg: Finding time while juggling the many different aspects of education is a significant challenge for teachers. They are driven by the desire to create opportunities that enrich and extend students as individuals, while ensuring that the needs of all learners remain at the forefront of teaching and learning.
Building meaningful relationships with students and colleagues requires intentional effort, yet it is vital for creating a thriving learning environment, particularly as educators are constantly teaching and working to create, reshape, and deliver inclusive and equitable learning environments.
WhichSchool?: Tell us about your approach or philosophy to teaching?
Mr Kuilenburg: As an arts educator, my teaching philosophy focuses on educational frameworks that foster innovation and utilise cultures of thinking to promote creativity and collaboration. I emphasise student-centred learning and, as a leader, I prioritise mentoring staff and supporting departments to build a thriving learning culture. My philosophy as an educational leader is to ensure that students are equipped to be world-ready and that teachers are empowered to guide students on this journey.
WhichSchool?: Did you have a teacher that inspired you? Tell us about them, and how they inspired you.
As a student, I always remember my high school music teacher, who had a genuine passion for teaching and inspiring his students. He was a creative and dedicated musician who worked alongside us, creating in collaboration rather than simply instructing. This experience became a pivotal moment for me when exploring cultures of thinking with Ron Ritchhart, who emphasised the importance of valuing both the collective and individual thinking in education. It brought my high school music teacher back into focus, as he shaped our thinking by fostering cultural forces in learning that emphasised language, time, environment, opportunities, routines, modelling, interactions and expectations.
