The National Excellence in Teaching awards has recognised 14 top teachers from across Australia in the 2006 program of the NEiTA Foundation’s teaching awards. The Award recipients range from early childhood teachers to secondary school teachers in disciplines ranging from music and dance through to mathematics and teaching in government, independent, denominational and private education settings.
The NEiTA Foundation’s National Excellence In Teaching awards program honours examples of Australia’s top teachers as chosen by school communities – secondary students, parents, school councils, and community organisations. Sixty per cent of voters in polls developed by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) on behalf of the NEiTA Foundation believe a teacher had the most influence in their life after their immediate family1.
"The majority of Australians have an inspirational story about a favourite teacher," says NEiTA Foundation Chairman, Terry O’Connell, "NEiTA award recipients connect with students and parents, and engage them in the learning process, and inspire them to achieve their full potential."
Launched in Australia in 1994 by the Australian Scholarships Group, the NEiTA Foundation’s teaching awards program aims to recognise and honour excellent teachers from local communities, to recognise and highlight excellence in teaching and to encourage students to enter the teaching profession. In 2004, the awards program was expanded to include a category for registered early childhood teachers.
This year’s award recipients received crystal apple awards, certificates and professional development grants of $5,000 from the Australian Scholarships Group to apply to their professional development or the special project of their choice. The award recipients were selected from more than 2350 national nominations.
The National Excellence in Teaching awards recipients include:
Early Childhood Category:
- Jannelle Gallagher, Early Childhood Teacher, Kurri Kurri and District Preschool, Spion Kop, NSW
- Sandra Love and Peddie Cafarella, Early Childhood Teaching Team, Tully Community Preschool & Kindergarten, Tully, Queensland (Peddie Cafarella is now at Mourilyan Kindergarten, Qld)
- Sonya Plunkett-Smith, K – Year 4 Teacher, Glenora District High School Teacher, Bushy Park, Tas
Primary School Category:
- Susan Moore, Primary & OC Teacher (works with gifted children), Gosford Public School, Gosford, NSW
- Rob MacFarlane, Primary – Environmental Co-ordinator, McLaren Vale Primary School– McLaren Vale, SA
- Kerry Bolger, Early Childhood – Year 10, Head of Campus, St Leonards College Cornish Campus, Bangholme, Vic
- Julie Percy, Primary – Year 2 Teacher and Numeracy Co-ordinator, St Peter’s School, Epping, Vic
- Karen Duffy, Primary – Special Education Teacher, Christ Church Grammar School, Claremont, WA
Secondary School Category:
- Alana McGee, Outdoor Education Teacher, Hawker College, Hawker, Canberra, ACT
- Conor Finn, Middle-School Teacher – English, Environment and Religious Education, St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, Qld
- Helen Willmett, Vocational Education Co-ordinator – Secondary – Home Economics and Hospitality, Blackheath & Thornburgh College, Charters Towers, Queensland (now at St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville, Qld)
- Aidan Coleman, Secondary Teacher – English and History, Trinity College, Gawler, SA
- Stephen Corcoran, Secondary Teacher – Mathematics, St Stephen’s School Carramar, Tapping, WA
Outdoor Education Teacher, Alana McGee from Hawker College, Hawker, Canberra received her crystal apple award and the opportunity to represent Australia at NASA’s seven-day International Space Camp held in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, in late July 2006.
ASG’s Communities General Manager, Warwick James said: "ASG supports the NEiTA Foundation’s awards program because teachers make an important contribution to the lives of our young people and help shape the future of our country, yet few opportunities arise to recognise the true value of the role they play within the community."
This year, the 13th year of the Foundation’s program, two Awards streams are being offered to teachers from early childhood and special centres, and primary and secondary schools in government, denominational, independent and private education environments.
1. The Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) ran a straw poll on its website www.asg.com.au and also on its parenting resources website, KidsLife Foundation www.kidslife.com.au asking the question: After your family, did a teacher have the most influence in your life? Voters were asked to agree or disagree with the question. The polls received a total of 144 votes with the results: 87 Yes votes; 57 No votes – 60 per cent voting Yes. ASG is the major supporter of the NEiTA Foundation’s teaching awards program and conducted the polls on behalf of the Foundation.