The Department of Education has announced that four of the 12 latest teaching awards have been presented to principals or teachers in the public education system.
The 2019 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards were announced last Friday (29 March) with four of the 12 Teaching Fellows presented to NSW Department of Education principals and teachers in three primary schools and one high school.
Secretary of the Department, Mark Scott, said it was an outstanding achievement for public education.
“These awards shine a light on the exceptional work of our teachers and principals; and how they provide opportunities for success and change students’ lives,” Mr Scott said.
Among the NSW winners was Auburn North Public School deputy principal Chantel Mirzai (pictured) , who over a three-year period transformed the school from having declining student outcomes to a school with student achievement growth in the top five per cent for NSW.
The other NSW winners are:
- Alison Rourke, Buxton Public School (now principal at Fairy Meadow Demonstration School)
- Denise Lofts, principal, Ulladulla High School
- Monica St Baker, principal, Hanwood Public School.
Murat Dizdar, Deputy Secretary, School Operations and Performance in the Department said the award recipients were standard bearers for the Department’s teaching staff.
“The entire public education community in NSW applauds the success of our educators,” Mr Dizdar said.
“Awards like these raise the status of teaching and recognise the quality and commitment of our teachers.”
Co-presented by the Commonwealth Bank and education charity Schools Plus, the awards are among Australia’s most prestigious prizes for educators.
Each winner receives a $45,000 prize to assist with their professional development, roll out a new education project in their school and take part in an overseas study tour to a high-performing education system.
