Australia New Zealand

Recipients

National Award Recipients 1999 - 2000 (This page is large and may take a while to download) (click to view recipients by group) . Scroll down to view recipient profiles listed in alphabetical order For information or photographs not supplied on this site please contact our NEiTA Co-ordinator Ms. Penny Graydon by phone on  (03) 9276-7768 or by email at pgraydon@asg.com.au during business hours.   Jacqueline Brown SECONDARY Bridgewater High School, Tasmania     Jackie has twice received NEiTA state or regional awards and today is honoured with both a Commonwealth prize and a national award for her “exemplary practice” at Bridgewater High School.  Jackie established a school farm for inclusive education in 1992 and has since developed it as an education centre promoting sustainable land and water management, good animal husbandry practice and responsible environmental values. With over three quarters of students drawn from depressed socio-economic urban areas,  the farm works well as an “outdoor classroom” offering a context for alternative programs which help students in need of extra literacy support. It provides opportunities for learning job skills and future rural employment. Jackie sees herself as facilitator of tasks which allow students to be successful and to turn challenges into fun.     Glenda Cain PRIMARY Tranby Primary School, Western Australia     Glenda receives her award for “best practice approach to multi-age group teaching programs” together with the first of the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Teacher’s Prize for Excellence. This gives her a $2500 grant for professional development . Her school of nomination, Tranby Primary School also receives a $2,500 grant. Glenda established multi-age group teaching environments at Tranby and Kewdale schools. She has also contributed to curriculum development in the English learning area  trialling outcomes in English, Technology and Enterprise with multi-age Years 3 and 4 classes.     Jon Carnegie SECONDARY Trinity Grammar School, Kew Victoria     The achievements of Jon’s students at Trinity Grammar, Kew are astonishing. Recently they secured the acceptance of Nelson Mandela to visit Australia and to address a live audience of 20,000 people in Melbourne on the issue of Reconciliation. Together the students met Mandela and sent a message to other students through their own website – Learning Journeys. Jon asserts that when students and teachers understand why they are doing something and that the implications of their actions have a direct bearing on their life, they are far more likely to be motivated learners. He has taken English, History, Publishing and Marketing beyond the classroom into student led publishing businesses.  He receives his Commonwealth prize and a NEiTA  “for inspiration and example”.     Penelope Cassimatis PRIMARY Harrington Street Public School, Cabramatta     Many of  Penelope’s achievements at the Harrington Street Public School show her abilities to meet the needs of a diverse multi-cultural community. She introduced bi-lingual kindergarten classes using Vietnamese and Chinese,  initiated and presented the TTALL (Talk To a Literacy Learner) program to the community in three languages, started Multi-Cultural Days and a Multi-Cultural Storytelling program for years K-6.  Nominators and supporters see her great strength as “building alliances between home and school based on mutual trust, respect and interest”. She receives her award for “dynamic leadership in education” and a Commonwealth prize rewarding her exemplary practice.     Celia Costin SECONDARY Perth Modern School, Subiaco Western Australia     Celia expresses her philosophy of music education in terms of the motto of Perth Modern School   – “Savoir C’Est Pouvoir” or “To Know is To Be Able”.  Her study of  Hungarian educator, Zoltan Kodaly’s principles of music education with an emphasis on singing, and matching levels of musical mastery to recognised developmental stages has led her to emphasise performance. Reinvigorating the Junior and Senior Choral group,s she first formed a female chamber ensemble – Chorus Angelicus and then a male ensemble – Schola Cantori . In 1999 the School Student Touring Party – 120 choristers in all won a gold trophy at the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna.  Celia receives her Prize and Award for “excellence in music education”.     Carl Di Stefano SECONDARY Fairhills High School, Knoxfield Victoria     Carl’s insight that he taught students rather than his subject – Information Technology at Fairhills High School led him to revise his curriculum to make the subject matter more real and engaging for his classes. He found the imaginary Walrus Tusk Hotel on mythical Quail Island to be a good framework to develop student imagination and participation. They developed an advertising program, restaurant menus and eventually a website learning in the process about project management and communication.  His elective became the most popular non-compulsory subject at VCE level. His nominators describe Carl as an “outstanding classroom teacher, loved and respected by students across the whole range of age and ability from Year 7 to Year 12.”  He receives his prize and award for “contribution and leadership”.     Greg Douglas SECONDARY Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Broadmeadow NSW     Greg receives a Commonwealth prize and his national award for “teaching of Aboriginal Studies and example”. He initiated Aboriginal Studies as a subject at the Hunter School of Performing Arts in 1993 as a strategy to help redress under performance of Aboriginal students at the school and to raise awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture within the school community.  He first established an Aboriginal Student Support and Parents Awareness committee , which provided fund-raising and contact with Aboriginal groups and support organizations. What followed were an Aboriginal Studies camp, employment of an Aboriginal Education assistant, and the setting up of an Aboriginal Homework Centre between 1993 and 1999. He introduced an Aboriginal Achievement Celebration Day rewarding students for participation as well as achievement. With changes to the curriculum, an Aboriginal dance group, Millabah was set up and is gaining growing acclaim.     Lorraine Ellis SECONDARY Newton Moore Senior High School, Bunbury WA     Lorriaine says “never underestimate the ability of youth”. Through her environmental science unit at Newton Moore Senior High School in Bunbury , she has facilitated her students intransforming an eight-acre waste area , overgrown with weeds and rubbish ,on the outskirts of the school grounds into a thriving wetlands ecosystem. The concept originated with the Senior Science and Biology class but eventually extended to the lower school, included contact with water authorities, museums and with the Noongar  Aboriginal people. This student led project has led on to the production of website pages displaying the results and funding through prizes. Lorraine receives her Commonwealth prize and NEiTA for “excellence in biology and science curriculum development”.     Ruth Evans SECONDARY Riverland Special School, Berri South Australia     Ruth receives a Commonwealth prize and a NEiTA for “excellence in developing work transition for disabled adolescents” at the Riverland Special School in Berri. Ruth says that her teaching method is “constantly driven by the very specific needs of my students”. Her concern is to equip them to be competitive in the workplace and the community by offering in her Vocational Education program “experiences and learning situations around independent living skills, personal growth and development, maths and language for living in the community, fitness and recreation.” The solution at the Work Education Centre has involved mixing disabled adolescents with an older group of handicapped people seeking additional work skills or  reentry to the workforce. Results have been stunning with 11 of the 14 student graduates finding work and the remaining 3 accessing voluntary work and day options.     John Evenhuis SECONDARY Blackwater State School, Queensland     Blackwater is a small town  situated 200 kms west of Rockhampton and about 60 kms east of Emerald on the Capricorn highway. In the past decade , choirs and bands from two Blackwater primary schools and the Blackwater High School have won a string of awards at the Queensland Festival of Music and the Rockhampton Eisteddfod. Annual High School musical productions enrich community life and are mentioned in the overwhelming community support given by Blackwater parents to John’s nomination. John says of his teaching – “I will not allow any child to experience failure in my classroom”. The comprehensive music program which he has  initiated earns him a Commonwealth prize and a NEiTA for “music teaching excellence”.     Anastasia Fidow SECONDARY Tennant Creek High School, Northern Territory     Ana says “the long term vision is to see Aboriginal students in Grade 12 as the norm rather than the exception” at Tennant Creek High School. She is the facilitator of programs which have so far produced Aboriginal students completing Year 12 and successes for the School in exhibitions in Adelaide and Sydney. Among initiatives is the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspiration Program which now has groups both in Senior and Junior schools. However, Ana bridges the gap as the coach of a local football team which includes former students and others who have left school early. Her presence as a tutor outside of school hours to adolescents and children living in fringe camps has won support from her nominators. Ana receives the Commonwealth’s prize and a NEiTA for “exemplary teaching practice”.     Angela Hack EARLY CHILDHOOD Ascot State Preschool, Queensland     Angela receives her award for “exemplary pastoral care”. At the Ascot State Preshool she has developed an “ event based play” approach which helps children to develop their decision-making and encourages them to gain the skills necessary to be part of a community. Her moral education emphasis has produced good outcomes for children and is greatly appreciated by parents.     Peter Henry PRIMARY Tharwa Public School, ACT     Peter says that “by developing activities and processes that connect students with the”real world”, children become active learners.” As Teaching Principal of Tharwa Public School he has initiated a “School Parliament” which gives students opportunities to take responsibility for many aspects of school life, including environmental programs. Applying an open manner and a sense of fun, he makes the classroom a happy place where children love learning. Peter receives a Commonwealth prize and his National NEiTA for “leadership and service”.     Jennifer Hillman PRIMARY Specimen Hill Primary School, Victoria     The next recipient of a Commonwealth prize is the new Assistant Principal of Specimen Hill Primary School, Bendigo. Jennifer receives her NEiTA for “holistic teaching and curriculum initiatives”. She says – “the key to teacher/student interaction  is for students to know you care about them – to show them their learning and well being is important to you through the challenges you set and the way you interact with them.” Among her initiatives are “Solving the Jigsaw” (a program designed to address social issues of acceptance and  decision-making), “Turning the Tide” ,“Awesome Choices”, Peer Mediation, Asthma Awareness and Parent Support programs.     Kim Igoe EARLY CHILDHOOD Bay Road Kindy, Gymea Bay NSW     Kim’s award recognises her “leadership and example”.  Parents who nominated Kim say  that teachers like her who love teaching, help others to love learning. Her preschoolers at the Bay Road Kindy have “individual learning programs” as well as a group program. They are taught sign language, sing in 6 languages, and greet each other in 16. Kim encourages learning as a shared process between the child’s parents, teachers, and the wider community.     Susan Johns SECONDARY Loreto Normanhurst, NSW     Susan’s prize and award recognise “creative and inspired teaching of Mathematics” at Loreto Normanhurst, an all girls school..  Susan uses technology to enhance learning of mathematics and to develop the confidence of students in applying technological tools to solve mathematical problems. She says mathematical software such as Cabri Geometry, available both on computer and graphics calculator, has revolutionized geometry. Her research shows acceptance by nearly three quarters of her classes with the balance seeking more teacher input. To this she adds her own inspirational touch -  such as “Circles Day” when a whole Year group do a unit of work on circles culminating in a circle lunch and a round robin competition of circle games. Her class wrote and performed a Mathematical play about women Mathematicians. HSC results bear out her success.     Barbara Langford EARLY CHILDHOOD Jescott Montessori Preschool, Magill South Australia     Barbara is the founder of Montessori preschool education in South Australia. She opened the Jescott preschool in 1989 and has added two more in 1992 and 1998. Her teaching practice focuses on “prepared environment” – an exciting environment which invites discovery and unfolds as children choose their own work. Self-discipline develops through responsibility and independence. Barbara’s awards are “for entrepreneurship and exemplary preschool teaching.”     Margery Light PRIMARY Kalinda Primary School, Ringwood Victoria     Marge has successfully introduced and embedded the Victorian  “Early Years Literacy” Program and “Keys to Life” at Kalinda Primary School, Ringwood since 1997.  She says, “I set an example to students and colleagues by being an active learner myself”. Marge trained in Reading Recovery and became an Early Years Trainer.  Her nominators say  that “her enthusiasm and commitment have motivated the whole school community.”  This is reflected in support from parents, school council, parents and friends assoiciation, and her Principal. Marge receives her prize and award for “excellence in teaching and commitment to on-going learning.”     Kirsty Liljegren EARLY CHILDHOOD Wesley College, Elsternwick Victoria     Kirsty’s award for “leadership and innovation” reflects her influence on the Early Years Programme at Wesley College, Elsternwick and incorporation of the Regio Emilia approach to using environment as a key component of early learning. Over six years, Kirsty has acted as a catalyst for this development with children, parents and teachers all participating in the changes. Kindergarten projects such as the making of a four meter long dragon to celebrate Chinese New Year and an ongoing project on shadows and spirals have excited her students and her parent nominators.     Brian Lovegrove PRIMARY Lithgow Primary School, NSW     The Lithgow Primary School library was redesigned by Brian to symbolise the “Information Super-Highway”. It is now a Learning Centre which addresses students’ particular learning and research needs, teaches computer skills, supports website developments and on-line learning projects, provides an Internet Café for parents, teachers and students, and is a resource for lunchtime computer, reading and games activities. Brian’s impact is reflected in support from the wider school community who highlight his work with the TTALL program, his capacity “to bring books to life”, and his leadership of  welfare and drug education. He receives his prize and award for “commitment to total education”.     Beth Lucas PRIMARY Morayfield East State School, Queensland     As a Key Teacher at Morayfield East State School in 1996, Beth initiated strategies to address the research finding that a third of students failed to meet the Year 2 benchmark standard for literacy. She pursued the theory that students were working with inappropriate reading materials. She felt resources should reflect a spread of  text across genres gradually increasing in length and complexity. Fresh resources , intervention strategies, and the introduction of a Perceptual Motor program for Year 1s has almost halved the proportion below benchmark. Beth receives her prize and award for “excellence in literacy and numeracy teaching”.     Jane Merewether EARLY CHILDHOOD St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bunbury Western Australia     Jane brings great energy, creativity and personal involvement into her pre-primary teaching at St.Mary’s Bunbury. Her “open-door” policy with families includes a weekly newsletter, once a term portfolio of work including samples and a development assessment sheet, a comprehensive information book for parents, mini-interviews, and many events organised so that children and parents can participate. She receives her award for “fostering the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth of students.”     Angela Niven PRIMARY Darling Point Special School, Queensland     Angela uses photographs in a special way. Her students at Darling Point Special School love looking at photographs, saying the names, learning to construct simple sentences, making books and communicating with classmates and families. Photographs give visual clues for auditory instruction and are used to achieve behavioural goals. Photographs form part of communications between home and school, with families and with therapists. Described by her nominators as “a popular, talented teacher who is held in  the highest esteem, Angela receives her award, Commonwealth prize and today’s photographs, “for excellence in special education”.     Francesca Peel PRIMARY St Peter's College, St Peter South Australia     Francesca has twice received NEiTA state and regional awards. She receives her Commonwealth prize and first national award for “enhancing educational opportunities for her students”. Her nominators write of her innovations and creativity – inspiring her students to outstanding performances in gaining scholarships, awards and prizes in fields as varied as mathematics, poetry recital and debating. Francesca says of teaching  boys in their final year of primary at St Peter’s College that “ it presents many problems and interesting challenges”. A key to her success has been promoting optimism, eliminating negativity, and inspiring students to use poetry to express their feelings.     Helen Smith SECONDARY Marist College Kogarah, Bexley New South Wales     Helen writes of her program – “Connection” that it provides a context for education and for addressing problems such as the growing imbalance in HSC completions by girls rather  than boys. She says “in many cases schools are the only link, the only point of connection, that hold the lives of young people together”. Through her Religious Studies units , Year 12 and Year 11 retreats and events such as Marcellin Champagnat – a week long celebration challenging students to examine their care for others in the community she supports Marist College Kogarah.  Her nominators believe that Helen understands the correlation between emotional wellbeing and school success, and that she has contributed for over 20 years to Values Education through guidance of students and the professional development of teachers in Catholic Education.  Her prize and award are for “service and leadership”.     James Southwood PRIMARY Trinity Grammar Preparatory School, Strathfield New South Wales     James presents a multi-faceted music programme from Kindergarten to Year 6  at Trinity Grammar Preparatory School, Strathfield which improves student’s aural skills through a curriculum encouraging them to develop their abilities to create and interpret music and movement, by participation individually, through small groups and classes. Every Year 2 and Year 3 boy learns about the violin and the cello. He says “children feel happy to be involved in music because they know that they will be part of a successful and exciting programme.” The School ‘s auditioned choir, “the Trinity Singers” enjoys national renown. James receives a Commonwealth prize and a NEiTA for “excellence in music teaching”.     Lynne Stephens PRIMARY Highgate Primary School, South Australia     Lynne is honoured for “professionalism and career contribution to teaching”. In the resource based learning projects which she negotiated with her Year 5 class at Highgate Primary School in 1999, Lynne encouraged her students to work individually or in small teams around the theme of “recycling” and to present their results in  two and three dimensional form. The success of this approach has led Lynne more recently to initiate a number of systems study projects for 10 year olds on topics ranging from ecosystems to human biology. As an Advanced Skills teacher, Lynne applies her learning from professional development activities in a practical way to advance the social skills and knowledge of her classes.     Coral Swan PRIMARY Hambledon State School, Edmonton Queensland     Step into Coral’s Year One classroom at Hambledon State School and there is print everywhere – big books, small  books, papers, whiteboards, chalkboards, computers, sentence beginnings, alphabet cards, numbers, reminders, rules,student work, a word wall and a calendar wall. Coral believes in immersing her students in words, talk, reading aloud, conversations and in creating unity through appreciating and celebrating diversity. Keywords are “try”, “show and tell” and in this dynamic environment, the “teachable moments”. Parent nominators write of children who are “comfortable” but “eager to learn”. Coral receives her Commonwealth prize and a NEiTA for “excellence in literacy teaching”.     Joan Trueman SECONDARY Pine Rivers State High School, Strathpine Queensland     Joan says “in all my programs and classes I strive to develop the skills and qualities that young people will need to equip them for the future”. Her success is illustrated by the accomplishments of her students. Her Year 10 “Step Ahead” class at Pine Rivers State High School provided four teams representing Queensland at the International Conference for the Gifted and Talented. Her programs to help students with learning disabilities – “Master Key” (focusing on literacy and numeracy skills) and “Write Now” (on planning and writing tasks) are highly successful. Joan’s “Ace Day” (Across Cluster Enrichment Day) extends her  influence to 2 other high schools and 11 primary schools. Joan receives her prize and a NEiTA for  “enrichment program achievements”.     Connie vander Voort PRIMARY Hampton Park Primary School, Victoria     Since the end of last year Connie has become involved in accrediting other Leading Teachers after her success as Grade 5/6 teacher and Maths Co-ordinator at Hampton Park Primary School. She is admired for her development of innovative and challenging programs across the Key Learning Areas and for her contributions on middle schooling for which is now the school co-ordinator for a  research project in this area. Connie initiated and developed an Enrichment Program for Gifted and Talented Students now reflected across the school curriculum ,in interschool competitions and in programs for Years 7 and 8 . She receives her awards “for exemplary practice in middle schooling.”     Gae Williams PRIMARY Blackmans Bay School, Tasmania     Gae receives her NEiTA and Commwealth prize “for developing teamwork and community spirit” in her role as Special Programmes Co-Ordinator for Blackmans Bay  Primary School. Her nominators say that “she has changed many lives for  the better” through the roles she has assumed as class teacher, co-ordinator for special education, gifted and talented children and her work in parent and community liaison. Her favourite words are “leap” and “fly” to describe opportunities created for children and “magical” to describe her reactions to their learning. She manages excursions, team participation in “Tournaments of the Minds”, and interactions between the school and community groups such as Red Cross.     Janet Wood PRIMARY Eden Hill Primary School, Western Australia     Janet says that using “WebQuests”  (a model developed by US teachers, Tom March and Bernie Dodge and available through the internet) has added a new dimension  to teaching at Eden Hill Primary School. Janet lauds the results of having Year 7 students use net resources for research and then presentation in appropriate art style and language for Year 2 classes. From a novice in 1997, Janet has become the school’s leader in embracing information technology, setting up a dedicated classroom and integrating the use of computers into the primary school curriculum. She receives her Commonwealth Prize and a NEiTA for “exceptional leadership and innovative teaching.”

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