Community
18 February, 2026
Fresh faces at Cobden Tech
COBDEN Technical School has welcomed the year with two new teachers to lead the next generation of learners into the future.
Jack Lavery and Ryan Lloyd-Jones have joined the Cobden Tech staff for a change of scenery and a desire to make a difference.
Teaching Year Seven and Eight English and taking on a learning specialist role, Mr Lavery is enjoying his new role at the school.
“This is the ninth year of me being a teacher,” he said.
“I came to Cobden Tech because I wanted a change and I wanted a step up – I’ve moved into the learning specialist role.
“I wanted a challenge in that respect.
“I’ve always sort of moved around to different schools – I started teaching in Melbourne initially, then moved to Colac and worked at a couple of different schools.
“I saw the job advertised and thought I would give it a go.”
Mr Lavery said he has been welcomed to the team with open arms and is taking the opportunity to make a real difference with the students.
“It sounds corny but I became a teacher to make a difference,” he said.
“I think all teachers come into it with some form of altruistic motivation to teach and do what they do to make a positive difference.
“It’s been a nice change – everyone’s been really friendly and welcoming staff-wise and the students have been fantastic.
“I think the Year Sevens in particular are still in their timid sort of phase going from being the oldest at primary to the youngest at secondary.”
Mr Lloyd-Jones is teaching a wide array of classes, including VCE Year 11 and 12 Business Management, Year Eight and Nine Humanities and Year 12 Vocational Major Personal Development Skills.
He said his portfolio came from a solid foundation of tertiary and industry experience.
“I had a variety of tertiary ground, I had a bachelor of management and a graduate certificate in supply chain management,” Mr Lloyd-Jones said.
“I’ve worked in other industries and I went back and started teaching later in life for 16 years now.
“I spent most of that time in Balmoral.
“I needed a change, I’d been there for a long time and Cobden Tech was a good fit in terms of the subject.”
Mr Lloyd-Jones said he was drawn to Cobden Tech based on the location and the ethos of the school.
“I just enjoy helping kids and helping people develop and helping kids build better futures,” he said.
“I think the earthiness of the school and the location drew me to Cobden Tech – even though I’m not a tech teacher, the tech facilities are terrific and I thought that was good.
“It’s a bit closer to everything for me as well, location-wise.”
Cobden Technical school principal Narelle Holliday said the school had welcomed the new staff members with open arms.
“It’s great to have new staff on board,” she said.
“Both gentlemen are already making great relationships with the students which is what we encourage.
“They’ve been really professional but are jumping in and lending a hand with activities like sports day
“We’ve welcomed them to the team.”
Read More: Cobden