Victoria’s best and brightest teachers are being encouraged to apply for the prestigious Teaching Excellence Program prior to the opening of the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, a new statutory authority.
Minister for Education, James Merlino said applications were now being taken for the Australian-first program of advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers across Government, Catholic and independent schools.
“The Teaching Excellence Program is a one-year program that will take up to 250 teachers in its first year, increasing to 500 per year once the Academy is fully operational, and advance their professional practice through research in learning and discipline-based content knowledge,” Mr Merlino said.
“The Program will enable teachers to share their best ideas, experiences and resources, further raising the calibre and status of Victoria’s teaching workforce,” he said.
“The most exceptional graduates, or Academy Fellows, have the opportunity to become Master Teachers and undertake research fellowships to lead the design and delivery as the Program continues.”
Mr Merlino said the Academy would open in the Treasury Precinct building in Melbourne in January, with the building to be transformed with flexible learning spaces and enhanced technology for contemporary professional learning.
The Minister said further Academy campuses would be established in Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Moe and Shepparton.
He said the Program would start in Term One of next year.
“In addition to delivering the Teaching Excellence Program, the Academy builds on the work of the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership to deliver an expanded suite of leadership programs for Government school leaders,” he said.
Further information on the Academy Program, including how to apply, can be accessed on the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership website at this PS News link.
