FINALISTS REVEALED IN PRESTIGIOUS QUEENSLAND TEACHING AWARDS

Thirty of Queensland’s most outstanding teachers have been named as finalists in prestigious state teaching awards.

From an ‘82 years young’ teacher inspiring the grandchildren of some of her first students, to teachers breaking down barriers imposed by intergenerational poverty, to those connecting pupils with NASA, Esports, drone piloting, podcasting, and opportunities to help to save the Great Barrier Reef and endangered animals, to school leaders sharing hundreds of YouTube lessons to help others during the COVID-19 remote learning period or providing unprecedented community services for their families on their school site, to principals providing interpreters for every deaf and hard of hearing student or galvanising their communities after tragedy, and transforming student outcomes, the changes that this year’s finalists are making in their school communities, and across Queensland, are remarkable.

The winners of the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) TEACHX Awards, which are the only Queensland education awards that recognise teachers from all schooling sectors and the early childhood sector, and across all subjects, will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday October 29, on the eve of World Teachers’ Day celebrations in Queensland.

The finalists have been chosen from a record number of almost 400 nominations across just six categories — a 60 per cent increase on last year’s number of nominations, which was also a record.

QCT Board Chair Emeritus Professor Wendy Patton said the 2020 TEACHX Awards highlighted the exceptional work of teachers across all geographical areas in Queensland.

“I congratulate this year’s TEACHX Awards finalists on the extraordinary impact they have made in their students’ lives and schools — it is a privilege to be able to highlight and share the difference you are making in your school communities and more widely across the state” she said.

“I’d also like to congratulate the almost 400 teachers who were nominated, including the 74 who were shortlisted, for their excellence inside and outside the classroom. Your contributions and achievements have made, and continue to make, a significant and positive difference to the future of your students, your community and Queensland.”

The QCT encourages all students, parents and community members to thank teachers for the important work they do on World Teachers’ Day, October 30.

Note: The Queensland College of Teachers is a statutory authority and state regulatory authority for the teaching profession which registers, regulates and promotes the profession.

 

QCT TEACHX AWARDS 2020 FINALIST LIST

Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
John Alloway, Ignatius Park College
John Aloizos, Yeronga State High School
Ping Ding, Marsden State High School
Pearl Donovan, Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus
Dell Rathbone, West Moreton Anglican College

Outstanding Contribution to School Community
Chantelle Amson, Nambour Special School
Ron Armstrong, The Cathedral College
Carly Bell, Clermont State High School
Cathy Nixon, Cairns West State School
Margaret Sherrington, Mabel Park State High School

Excellence in Beginning to Teach
Peita Bates, Maryborough State High School
Alexandra Calligaris, Maroochydore State High School
Matalena Daniells, Centenary State High School
Sophie Gruhl, Mabel Park State High School
Michael King, John Paul College

Excellence in Teaching
Jodi Audoss, Silkstone State School
Song Huang, Yeronga State High School
Cecilia Kovacic, Maryborough State High School
Matthew Lourigan, Loreto College
Joel Speranza, Ormiston College

Innovation in Teaching
Amy Freeman, Mackay District Special School
Gavin Jones, Mabel Park State High School
Cameron Lynch, Marsden State High School
Brett Murphy, Belgian Gardens State School
Christopher Pacey, St Patrick’s College, Townsville

Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning
Donald Cameron, Marsden State High School
Susan Dalton, Miami State High School
Keith Graham, Rochedale State School
Ben Habermehl, Yeronga State High School
Meredith Wenta, Kirwan State High School