Awarded

Dr Adrian George is Director of First Year Studies in the School of Chemistry. Students and staff alike attest to Dr Georgeís outstanding abilities as a teacher. He presents difficult concepts in chemistry in an interesting, engaging and logical way. His approach to teaching is enthusiastic and joyful and is based on his great depth and breadth of knowledge in his field.

Dr Leonora Ritter, from the School of Social Science and Liberal Studies at Charles Sturt University, is acclaimed as an innovator in the classroom who is always there for her students. Her pioneering work on computer simulation combined with her wealth of knowledge in the discipline of History has enabled her to produce first class, effective, teaching strategies.

Alison is a highly organised, confident and committed teacher. She has a sincere motivation to provide quality learning experiences for the children in her care. Alison has been instrumental in introducing new programs and procedures to her school and leading in their implementation. This is particularly evident in the areas of Literacy and Creative & Performing Arts.

David is the Head Teacher of Clinical Technology at OTEN, managing and teaching in the optical dispensing and optical mechanics courses (58 students across Australia and New Zealand). He has written a textbook on optical dispensing and is in the process of writing a second one to be published in 2002. He has lectured in a number of countries including the US, England, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, China, Australia and New Zealand. He is full of enthusiasm, cares for his students, and shares his expertise.

Leslie Quick is well respected in the school and local community. On the strength of his unique relationship with students that provides learning for life through his passionate commitment for his subject (Visual Arts), he is an excellent teacher and provides a model environment for teaching and learning. He has a strong network of colleagues, prominent in the Art Education Society and runs various in-service programs for teachers.

Robert works with students who have severely disordered behaviour problems. His credo is ìIím going to make a difference to this kid, whatever it takes and no matter how long it takesî. He is able to point to tangible results to prove it. His colleagues and his students, their parents and the broader community acknowledge his higher order skills and what a brilliant teacher he is: he transforms the lives of students who have been emotionally damaged and disordered. Robert stands between success and continued failure in life for many K-12 students in Port Macquarie.

Steven is the Special Education Head Teacher at the school. He has had a wide range of teaching experiences across all areas of the curriculum in both private and government schools. Steve says one of his strengths as a teacher is enthusiasm. ìI love teaching. I love the classroom. I take teaching seriously - the planning, administration, leadership. I strive to create a happy and safe environment. I aspire to be consistent and try hard to be a good role model.î Steve says the success of his programs shows that integration is of enormous value to the whole community.

Anna Green is a superb practitioner whose personal and professional qualities shine brightly. She is highly organised yet flexible in her approach, and quickly responds to individual needs. Anna values learning for all, welcomes challenges, is innovative, reflective and resourceful, dynamic yet humble, and articulate leader who inspires others.

Bronwyn teaches a K/1/2 composite class at Wallabadah Public School which is in the Tamworth District of the North West. Bronwyn believes that all children can achieve success at a high level given the appropriate environment and support. This underpins every facet of Bronwynís teaching methodology. Her students, past and present, are a testament to this belief. Bronwyn ìis determined that no one will slip through and that she will make a difference to all her studentsî (District Superintendent).

Christine is a classroom teacher with very extensive teaching experience. She has enjoyed ìevery moment of itî and has a passion for the Performing Arts. Mrs Easther fosters co-operative group learning and strongly promotes student involvement in tracking and being responsible for their own learning. She has worked closely with children in the area of Choir, Dance and Band. She reports that this involvement has given her the same sense of enjoyment and lasting memories as the children.

Daphne teaches in the Sydney Distance Education Centre. She has created a web presence for her school, developed interest lessons, teamed up with enthusiastic colleagues and promoted a global classroom. Taking the example of the information superhighway, she says that adrenalin is like petrol in the tank. One of the assessorís commented that Daphneís ìfoot is on the accelerator, the wind is in her hair and speed is in her blood! To-morrow is an exciting country and her students and she will get there.

Deborah has been teaching for 13 years and is currently teaching a Kindergarten class. She has a vivid interest in Gifted and Talented students Science and Creative Arts, particularly Visual Arts. She involves her students in local and international exhibitions and has instigated a Marathon Artwork on the walkways, in chalk, to celebrate the Olympics. She spontaneously mentors beginning teachers and ìother teachers in the school to take risks in lesson presentation, because of the self-confidence Debbie has instilled in them.

Elizabeth teaches Administration in the business services training division at Baulkham Hills College of TAFE. She developed a particular interest in developing resources that were paper based and computer based, and tailored them to individual student needs. She wrote a textbook, computer based learning programs and curriculum documents. She values creating an open and friendly learning environment that is both engaging and challenging for the students and herself, and she enjoys to be involved in teams that are both within the college, across the institute and also between institutes.

Kerry teaches music across the primary sector at the school, but she tries to create opportunities for students in all KLAs. She is particularly skilled at extending students in the area of music and creates opportunities such as eisteddfods, Schools Spectaculars, Opera House Concerts, Opening Ceremonies of Pacific Games, Paralympics and Olympics. She finds teaching challenging and very rewarding.

Lorna is an executive teacher. She is very experienced, having started her teaching career in 1972. She particularly enjoys teaching Kindergarten children. She is passionate about teaching and she is committed to taking the children as far as they can go. Mrs De Ceanís classroom is rich in literature, vibrant, fun, musical, dynamic, with a focus on student learning and celebrating success. She finds that having been at the school for a lengthy period has enabled her to build positive relations with families and to become a valued community member.

Marian is Year 3 teacher and Religious Education Coordinator at the school. Parents have described her as a ìteacher of teachersî, capable of meeting the full range of abilities of a Primary aged child. One of her ex-students expressed the opinion that she ìcauses us to believe in ourselves and that makes us what we are today ñ she moulds you as a personî.

Noella is working as a reading recovery tutor for the Albury District. Noella has a strong commitment to early intervention and the provision of high quality ongoing professional development to teachers. She very much enjoys being a teacher and a learner. She sets challenging, yet achievable standards for her Reading Recovery students and trainees. She believes that throughout her career she has been privileged to learn from students, colleagues and educational leaders in a variety of settings. In the year 2000, she decided to undertake doctoral studies.

Vicki McHenry Bredinís classroom is vibrant, entertaining, stimulating, a focus of student learning experiences. Parents, staff and students (past and present) describe her as an enthusiastic, creative and passionate teacher who never slows down. She was instrumental in developing and engaging all students and school community members in becoming environmentally aware in developing an extensive recycling program.

Carolyn is a teacher of general education at the institute. She has taught Science, Information Technology and pre-vocational areas and she has particularly enjoyed her involvement in co-ordinating and teaching programs for youth at risk. Gailís biggest satisfaction as an educator is the fact that students participating in the youth programs are achieving good results and are continuing their education, having developed a more positive attitude to education and the role it can play in their lives.

Christine teachers English at the school. She feels that the key to encouraging and managing students is a mixture of tolerance, commitment, flexibility and humour. Her most formative experiences outside the classroom made her more acutely aware of the vulnerability of parents ñ their dreams and disappointments in particular. She believes that teaching is essentially valuing humanity. This explains why the classroom remains her professional passion.

Accounting and Finance is Debraís teaching field. She believes she is fortunate and privileged to be a member of a professional team that includes full-time and part-time teachers, Head Teachers, College and Institute Executives committed to quality. They inspire her and provide her with notable role models. She states that her rewards in teaching are reinforced every day in observing her studentsí excitement and development, and in the knowledge that she has contributed to this. The portfolios she helps students prepare frequently result in successful employment outcomes for them.

Elaine teaches Kindergarten at the school. She has had wide experience in a variety of NSW schools. She has been a teacher librarian, a reading recovery teacher, a support teacher learning difficulties and a district literacy consultant. Her experience as a teacher librarian has enhanced her passion for the teaching of literary strands of the syllabus. She establishes high expectations of children, regardless of their background, and she maximises collegial expertise and greatly contributes to the professional development of others.

Gail teaches Office Administration at the Riverina Institute Finley Campus. Gail is the only full time teacher at the campus, and there are about 12 part-time teachers. In a small town like Finley it would be difficult to keep classes full year after year. But Gail has adapted curriculum to meet the needs of local industry and students and has maintained a healthy section. She is committed to sharing with colleagues. Local industry calls on her when they have vacancies because of the high quality graduates. She is thrilled to have received this award since she believes it is important for teachers of a small campus such as Finley and Deniliquin to be recognised for their achievements.

Jennifer Lawless is associate lecturer in the School of social Ecology and Lifelong Learning. She embodies the ideal of the scholar-teacher. She not only loves history and has a comprehensive grasp of the intellectual content of the discipline: she is an historian. Her passion for history and its teaching inspires her students ñ who have the kind of enthusiasm for her that only the finest teachers arouse in their students. Her impact upon the profession, through her leadership role in the History Teachersí Association of NSW, has been highly significant. Jennifer harnesses her powers of personality, intellectual acumen, and thoroughness of preparation in a highly impressive way.

Jodi is a teacher of Visual Arts at the school and is part of a very motivated and dedicated Art Department. She aims to lift the profile of Visual Arts within the school and the wider community and to develop and nurture a value and respect for art, and careers in the creative arts. It is this philosophy that has inspired numerous special arts projects that have led to amazing success for the students at the school.

Kay is a Head Teacher of English and Communication at the Illawarra Institute. She believes that a great influence in her teaching career was when she joined a team of dedicated and innovative teachers in her very first appointment in a High School. This happened again when she joined TAFE where she has had very supportive head teachers and deans to guide her and encourage her to achieve excellence. She also firmly believes that the most positive aspect of her teaching career has been the students she has had the privilege of knowing. Going above and beyond the expected is a daily goal for Kay who is inspirational in her ability to engage studentsí attention.

Kveta established the pilot project for Early Childhood Special Education in 1985 and has been the teacher of this area of education for about 17 years. Her passion is about ensuring that the needs of children with disabilities are met. Each year brings new challenges in a field of education where energy and enthusiasm are essential in encouraging children to reach their full potential. She works with a range of teachers and parents across a variety of school settings to provide a very effective transition program for Early Intervention students in Kindergarten.

Margaret's intellectual and practical art-making qualities, combined with a dynamic classroom atmosphere, create a charged and positive learning environment. She demonstrates a strong sense of cooperation and collegiality with other members of staff that has as its focus the best learning outcomes for her students.