Peter Blunt
Lake Ginninderra College
Australian Capital Territory
Outdoor education
Peter Blunt is a recognised leader in outdoor education, providing an outstanding contribution to quality outdoor adventure activities for students.
Peter, in his role as outdoor education and ‘adventure-plus’ coordinator at Lake Ginninderra College, has raised the quality and safety of outdoor education for students. He has provided extensive leadership in professional development programs, established ACT-wide risk management standards and built innovative links with tertiary institutions, vocational bodies and community organisations. The courses Peter has developed have been accredited to count towards university entrance scores as well as contribute to nationally recognised vocational qualifications.
Peter’s enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism have had a significant impact on students and colleagues and benefited schools and community groups nationally and internationally. Students undertaking his courses are extended academically and challenged physically within a learning program they enjoy. Enrolments in his courses have increased by 20 per cent over the past eight years.
Glenn Born
Ocean Road Primary School
Western Australia
Physical activity and healthy lifestyles
Glenn Born is an inspiring teacher, shaping the lives of students through innovative, inclusive and rewarding physical education programs.
Through his role as physical education specialist at Ocean Road Primary School, Glenn has developed and implemented a diverse range of programs aimed at students and their families as well as his colleagues, giving the entire school community an appreciation of the benefits and importance of leading healthy lifestyles.
More than half the schools within the school district are adopting Glenn’s Faction Athletics carnival format, designed to maximise student participation for the entire day. This reflects the widespread respect for his leadership and excellence in physical education. Glenn guides his colleagues in other schools and shares his expertise at a local, state and national level. His advice is regularly sought by work experience students and trainee teachers.
Stephen Collis
Northern Beaches Christian School
New South Wales
Technology in languages
Stephen Collis is an exemplary teacher, engaging students through creative language learning and inspiring a dramatic growth in French elective enrolments and excellent student performance in French.
As the learning area manager for languages at Northern Beaches Christian School and the school’s French teacher, Stephen brought the world into the classroom. He linked the school’s students to other students studying French around the world through the creation of a website of online student communities. He has developed a French course available entirely online enabling students to work at their own pace. The online course is available to students from other schools.
Stephen’s professional practice and knowledge, his expertise in integrating technology with language teaching and his innovative teacher professional development are recognised nationally and internationally.
Andrew Douch
Wanganui Park Secondary College
Victoria
Emerging technologies
Andrew Douch has had a significant impact on student academic progress and social development through the creative use of new technologies.
Andrew is the information and communications technology innovations leader and science teacher at Wanganui Park Secondary College. He has inspired students and colleagues through the incorporation of multi-media into teaching and learning through podcasts, discussion boards, and blogs. This use of technology has enabled students to develop a culture of independent learning.
Andrew’s approach to teaching provides students with access to learning anytime, anywhere. He shares his professional knowledge and practice at regional and state level.
Janelle Dowton
Dubbo School of Distance Education
New South Wales
Independent learning programs
Janelle Dowton is an outstanding teacher, dramatically improving student learning outcomes and vocational opportunities for geographically isolated students.
Janelle, head teacher of Dubbo School of Distance Education’s alternate faculty, set about creating a successful learning environment when appointed to her current position in 2003. Initial testing of new students, targeting students with special needs, designing independent learning programs and developing and delivering high quality learning packages were key to her work.
Through Janelle’s leadership and teaching strategies students have consistently improved their learning and most now complete their compulsory education at, or close to, an age appropriate stage.
Wendy Fletcher
Centre for Extended Learning Opportunities and Lenah Valley Primary School
Tasmania
Online programs for gifted students
Wendy Fletcher has pioneered the development of online programs that support and challenge gifted early childhood and primary students.
Wendy is an online and classroom teacher dividing her time between the Centre for Extended Learning Opportunities and Lenah Valley Primary School. Through her highly successful Ad Astra Online Program, a virtual classroom which connects gifted students in schools all over Tasmania, Wendy has established a community of more than 300 learners. Wendy’s innovative approach and effective teaching methods are an exemplary model for the Tasmanian school system. Her model is now being used to help build the capacity of schools, clusters and classroom teachers to develop their own online programs.
She is a role model to teachers and has led professional development and support networks in Tasmania as well as nationally and internationally.
Paul Jupe
Mount Gambier High School
South Australia
Vocational training and education
Paul Jupe is an outstanding teacher whose dedication has helped students make the transition from school to apprenticeships.
In his role as the technology studies coordinator at Mount Gambier High School, Paul caters for the 80 per cent of students who do not pursue higher education. He set up a regional building skills centre as well as an automotive skills centre, introduced a hands-on curriculum with an emphasis on design and formed strategic industry partnerships.
With the building and automotive skills centres available to students throughout the region, the benefits of Paul’s initiatives have spread beyond Mount Gambier High School. Ninety per cent of students attending the centres gain an apprenticeship.
Glynis Lanyon
Mount Keira Public School
New South Wales
Caring learning environment
Glynis Lanyon is a dedicated teacher, inspiring and shaping the lives of young students through a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy.
As the kindergarten to year 1 teacher at Mount Keira Public School, Glynis creates a stimulating learning environment for her students and uses cross-curricular activities to encourage investigative, individual learning. The school’s state-wide literacy and numeracy assessment results are consistently above average. The enthusiasm for learning Glynis instils in students from their first day at school has played an important part in these results.
Glynis is recognised for the inspiration she has provided to many students, colleagues and families and for the mentoring she provides for trainee and beginning teachers.
Julia Mannix
Para West Adult Campus
South Australia
Community arts
Julia Mannix is an excellent teacher, motivating disadvantaged students to achieve through creative opportunities in the community.
In her role as an advanced skills teacher in the visual arts department of Para West Adult Campus, Julia has built student confidence and found ways for them to engage with the community. She achieved this by integrating learning with local community activities, organising regular art exhibitions and encouraging student participation in local art competitions and events during the completion of their state education courses in art, craft and community studies.
Many of Julia’s students are regular exhibitors and run artistic community ventures such as galleries, art societies, craft groups and practical workshops.
Rodger Smee
St Peter’s Lutheran College
Queensland
Gifted and talented education
Rodger Smee is an outstanding teacher, dedicating his career to raising the national and international profile of Australian practice in gifted and talented education.
In his role as head of the exceptional learner’s department, Rodger has created a successful and supportive environment for gifted and talented students at St Peter’s Lutheran College. Rodger’s influence has inspired many new learning opportunities.
Having spent more than 30 years researching and teaching in gifted education, Rodger drew on his expertise to establish the INFINITY program (Integrating Needs with Feelings by Igniting, Nurturing and Inspiring Talented Youth). It is a fulltime accelerated learning program, attracting high demand for interstate and overseas placements.
Elizabeth Smith
Mountain Creek State High School
Queensland
Catering for diverse student needs
Elizabeth Smith instils in students an excitement for mathematics and advances student mathematical ability to the highest level.
As the senior mathematics teacher at Mountain Creek State High School, Elizabeth is responsible for teaching students in years 8 –12. She places significant emphasis on the individual learning needs of her students, adapting her teaching methods to suit the different levels and abilities of her students and setting high standards for them. This has led to many of them achieving excellent results and going on to study mathematics at university.
Elizabeth has also had a significant impact on the lives of students through sport, including district, state and national basketball and involvement in the life saving world championships.
Toni Morello-Vorenas
Mount Gambier High School
South Australia
Links to community
Toni Vorenas is an exemplary teacher who in her role as assistant principal and year 12 English teacher has turned around student, community and staff expectations of what is possible.
Toni’s year 12 student results are consistently high and through the LINK course she initiated, disengaged adults are able to re-enter secondary education. The first group of LINK students graduated with a year 11 certificate before moving on to employment, further training or re-engaging in year 12 mainstream schooling.
Toni works closely with educators from other schools and universities and is highly regarded for her professional excellence and dedication to education and equitable outcomes for students.
Janelle Williams
Trinity Bay State High School
Queensland
Visual arts education
Janelle Williams is an outstanding teacher committed to expanding opportunities for students through visual arts education.
As head of the visual arts department for more than ten years, Janelle has developed an innovative and challenging visual arts curriculum, engaged and inspired students to achieve state-wide recognition for their work and encouraged students to pursue tertiary study in a variety of creative fields.
Janelle’s leadership has established Trinity Bay State High School’s standing as a regional and state exemplar for curriculum implementation and innovative use of technology within the arts. She has developed a strong teaching team and has made significant contributions to the professional development of primary and secondary teachers regionally and across the state. Her expertise in the use of digital arts technology has contributed to notable student achievements in visual art, multi-media, media arts, film and television, new media, practical art and photography subjects.
Luke Williams
Canberra High
Australian Capital Territory
Engagement in learning
Luke Williams exemplifies excellent professional practice through his enthusiasm for engaging students in relevant learning and assessment activities, his dedication to student welfare and encouragement to all students to learn and do well.
Luke is the current year 10 coordinator at Canberra High, who has shaped the year group into a cohesive, happy and motivated community. Luke involves himself fully in the corporate life of the school, creating quality learning experiences for students, organising and participating in whole of school activities, assisting with technology and administrative tasks and creatively approaching challenges that come his way.
One of Luke’s major achievements was the development of a politics unit which received outstanding feedback from students and has been included in future year 10 programs.
Walter Wilson-Ramirez
Perth Modern School
Western Australia
Technology and curriculum delivery
Walter Wilson is an outstanding teacher who inspires both students and teachers through his innovative use of technology across the curriculum.
As year 9 coordinator and technology teacher at Perth Modern School, Walter’s enthusiasm, organisational skills and classroom management style promote a harmonious learning environment. He continually strives to support student learning through extension challenges and assessment tasks that enable students to achieve quality outcomes.
Walter provides information and communication technology professional development for fellow staff members. Through the links he has established with tertiary institutions, student learning opportunities have been extended.