Goodness Graces

By Wynne Ho

Born and raised in Cambridge, England, Mrs Victoria Grace grew up in a large and lively household. “My family used to foster children, and I really, really enjoyed helping them,” said Grace.

Being an educator was always appealing to Grace, as taking care of her foster siblings had kindled her love for teaching. However, Grace did not plan to embark on an education career at first.

After pursuing a degree in mathematics, Grace worked as a software engineer in the computer programming field for six years. Whilst she was enthralled by the subject she studied, Grace’s old job did not provide the same level of excitement that she would later encounter in teaching. In retrospect, Grace had always enjoyed consulting clients, a didactic and interpersonal element of her old job, which explains her love for working with students in the classroom.

When asked about her passion for mathematics, Grace enthused over the versatility of the subject. “It is applicable to everything. When you do lots of maths, it trains your brain to work in a logical way that helps with [all aspects of] life,” said Grace. It is not necessarily the complex equations that are pertinent to everyday life, but rather, it is the logically binding way of thinking that is integral to our lives. Grace pointed out that we utilise mathematical concepts to complete ostensibly mundane tasks, such as budgeting, planning portions when cooking, and moving. “I move house quite a lot,” said Grace, “and I plan scaled diagrams of where to place the furniture.” 

Grace first stepped foot in Renaissance College six years ago, when her daughter started school in year one. She found the school to be an “extremely big and friendly community,” with a helpful staff and student body. (Husband Paul Grace also happens to work at RCHK, teaching Individuals and Societies and History.)

When she is off duty, Grace enjoys “making a cup of tea in the maths office and sharing ideas with other teachers.” Grace reiterated her love for teaching, stating that she is not looking to enter management at the moment “because I want to focus on teaching.” 

Outside of school, Grace enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and being in nature in general. In addition, she usually goes on a run with her dog before getting the kids ready for school. Above all, Grace enjoys baking with her children and spending time with her family.