TEACHX

These amazing people, with over 85 years of combined service and leadership, are celebrated every year at the TEACHX Awards. The QCT started the Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2009 to recognise the incredible work of Queensland teachers.

Dr Roger Hunter OAM

Dr Roger Hunter OAM started teaching at 22 in Papua and New Guinea. He later worked in teacher education in PNG and in New South Wales, and at Griffith University in Queensland. He earned a Bachelor of Education, a master’s degree with honours, and a doctorate in the United States.

Dr Hunter is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators. He has been President of Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ), Executive Director of Lutheran Education Queensland, and an Adjunct Professor at Griffith University.

He served on the Queensland College of Teachers Board (QCT) and its earlier version, the Board of Teacher Registration, for 23 years, spending much of that time as Deputy Chair. Although he’s no longer on the board, Dr Hunter is still active in Queensland education and with QCT.

Dr Alan Druery OAM

He taught in primary and secondary schools before becoming Secretary for the Brisbane Catholic Education Council in 1970. As the first CEO and later Executive Director of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, Dr Druery supported Catholic education in Queensland for over 50 years.

He helped establish McAuley College, which later became part of Australian Catholic University (ACU). He served on the ACU Senate for 20 years and the Archdiocesan Education Council. He also spent 22 years working on teacher regulation, much of it as Deputy Chair of the QCT’s earlier boards. Dr Druery received honorary doctorates from Queensland University of Technology and Australian Catholic University in recognition of his outstanding service.

Ms Merline Muldoon

The late Ms Merline Muldoon was the first Chair of the Board of Teacher Registration, serving from 1989 to 1996. She was a strong supporter of teacher registration and led the Queensland Teachers’ Union's campaign in the 1960s that helped make it a reality.

Ms Muldoon started teaching in 1954. As principal of West End Infants State School in the 1970s, she transformed the school to support children from multicultural and disadvantaged backgrounds. She finished her career as principal of the Royal Children’s Hospital State Special School in Brisbane.

Dr John Dwyer

Dr John Dwyer has worked in education and training for over 60 years as a teacher, principal, inspector, director, and consultant. He served on the QCT Board from 1988 to 1989 and was Chair from 1997 to 2005.

Dr Dwyer started teaching at Ironside State School and later became principal of several schools, including Cherbourg. His time at Cherbourg inspired him to focus on the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. In 1998, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Queensland University of Technology.

Dr Joe McCorley OAM

Dr Joe McCorley OAM chaired the QCT Board from 2009 to 2017. He began teaching in 1961 as a state primary school teacher and later became a District Inspector of Schools.

In 1980, he joined Catholic Education as Supervisor of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Rockhampton. In 1989, he became the first lay Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese and later the Director of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission.

Dr McCorley received an OAM in 1995 for his contributions to education and an honorary doctorate from Central Queensland University in 2008.

Professor Betty Hazel Watts OBE

The late Professor Betty Hazel Watts OBE made a huge impact on education in Queensland. She was twice Chair of the Board of Teacher Education and Queensland’s fourth female professor.

Professor Watts started as a primary school teacher and later worked in higher education at the University of Queensland. She focused on Indigenous and special education issues. In 1976, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her educational service.

Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway

Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway has held many roles in teacher education at James Cook University. In the early 2000s, she moved into leadership roles, including serving as Chair of the Academic Board and Dean of the School of Education.

In 2009, she became the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Arts, Education and Social Sciences. She later became Dean of the College of Arts, Society and Education in 2014 and retired in 2019.

Professor Alloway’s research in Literacy and English Education earned her an award from the Australian Council of Deans of Education for her “Outstanding Contribution to Education.”

The Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway Excellence in Teacher Education Award recognises registered Queensland teachers working in tertiary education (higher education institutions) who have made an outstanding contribution to educating preservice teachers. 

Nominees will have demonstrated an exceptional ability to empower their students and colleagues, a positive impact on initial teacher education (ITE), and an outstanding contribution to the education of preservice teachers.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for their work in providing high-quality teachers to Queensland students most in need in disadvantaged communities and delivering online professional experience opportunities for preservice teachers disrupted by COVID-19.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Excellence in Teacher Education Award.

The Dr Alan Druery OAM Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching recognises exceptional Queensland teachers (with over four years’ teaching experience) who have made an outstanding contribution to student learning and their school community.

Nominees will have demonstrated an exceptional ability to empower colleagues, a positive impact on their school community, and an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession.

This is a broad category recognising the many facets of teachers’ exceptional work in and out of the classroom. As such, nominations should detail the projects, programmes, and pedagogies the nominee has worked on and delivered in their school or during their career.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for their work in school agricultural programmes, for promoting 'home languages' in school communities, and for innovative pedagogies that benefit colleagues’ teaching practices and student learning.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Excellence in Teaching Award.

The Dr Joe McCorley OAM Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award recognises registered Queensland teachers who have made a profoundly positive impact on their school community.

Nominees will have demonstrated a significant positive impact on student learning, significant engagement with their school or wider community, and an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for enabling connections with specialist services, leading multicultural programs, and facilitating skateboard-building workshops to facilitate meaningful conversations with students and their families.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award.

The Dr Roger Hunter OAM Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award recognises inspirational teachers with up to four years’ experience.

Nominees will have demonstrated excellent pedagogical practice, an outstanding ability to teach and connect with their students, and an outstanding contribution as a beginning teacher.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for embedding diverse representation in their teaching, working with students with disabilities, and delivering initiatives to reduce behavioural incidents.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award.

The Professor Betty Watts OBE Memorial Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Teaching recognises inspirational Queensland-registered teachers and school leaders with an outstanding record of service (at least 15 years’ experience).

The nominee’s practice and knowledge will have resulted in an exceptional impact on student learning, significant engagement with their school community, and an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for leading and inspiring teams, empowering their colleagues, mentoring staff to take on leadership roles, and embedding themselves in every aspect of school life.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award.

The Merline Muldoon Memorial Award for Innovation in Teaching provides recognition for a Queensland registered teacher who integrates innovative practices into their teaching to improve student learning.

Nominees will have demonstrated an outstanding impact on student learning, the use of innovative tools and/or techniques to create solutions, and an outstanding contribution to the profession.

Past recipients of this category were nominated for integrating eSports, virtual learning, school-based wind farms, and student re-engagement into their classrooms.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Innovation in Teaching Award.

The Dr John Dwyer Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award recognises outstanding leadership in the teaching profession.

Nominees will have demonstrated an exceptional ability to empower their staff and colleagues, a positive impact on their school community, and an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession.

Nominate a colleague for the TEACHX Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award.