Brightest teaching talent recognised

Brightest teaching talent recognised

Some of New Zealand’s most outstanding new teaching talent will be acknowledged on Tuesday night as Victoria University celebrates its brightest graduates from the Faculty of Education.

Victoria's inaugural Teacher Education Excellence Awards will celebrate graduating students who gained an A+ average in their academic studies and performed strongly while on teaching placement in 2010.

Thirteen recipients from a range of teacher education programmes will receive the award and include early childhood, primary, and secondary teaching candidates.

Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Dugald Scott, says the awards acknowledge graduates who have excelled in a rigorous and demanding teaching programme.

"Each recipient had to demonstrate a thorough understanding of teaching and learning within their chosen sector of the New Zealand education system, and each demonstrated an ability to think creatively and critically throughout their teacher education programme," says Professor Scott.

"While all of Victoria's graduate teachers know what to teach, know how to teach, and understand the responsibilities of belonging to the teaching profession, these graduates showed high levels of critical insight into the challenges of teaching and learning in New Zealand in the 21st century. They demonstrated professional excellence in their programme."

Rosemary Driver, a recipient of a Teacher Education Excellence Award, has also been awarded the Ilse B Steinberger Prize in Primary Teaching, awarded annually to the top Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) student in the Faculty of Education who has achieved both academic excellence and excellence in their teaching performance in the relevant year.

Ms Driver is now teaching in Birchwood Primary in Nelson. She is delighted to receive recognition for her studies and excited about what her new career.

"Teaching offers me an opportunity to be socially and professionally responsive, continually changing my own practice and priorities in response to the real and diverse needs of learners, parents and colleagues, as well as the chance to indulge my own passion for broad-spectrum learning and new experiences. It is very much a 'get out what you put in' kind of profession, and that suits me.

"I have only just begun my career as an educator but hope that I will be able to contribute to the education and welfare of young people in New Zealand, and perhaps internationally, in a variety of ways."

Many of the award recipients are now teaching in schools or centres around the country. Their names, awards and schools/centres are listed below.

Recipients / Award / School/Centre
Anna Simonsen / Certificate of Excellence / Wellington High School
Elizabeth Ashton / Certificate of Excellence / Raumati South Kindergarten
Jann Skachill / Certificate of Excellence,Habens Prize / Castle Kids, Kapiti Coast
Lyndal Sheat / Certificate of Excellence,Swafford Family Prize / Hutt Intermediate School
Amanda Poole / Certificate of Excellence / Karori Childcare
Mary Cull / Certificate of Excellence / Te Whare Hauora, CBD
Misbah Sadat / Certificate of Excellence / Paraparaumu College
Richard Allardice / Certificate of Excellence / Paraparaumu College
Rosalind Godfrey / Certificate of Excellence / Childhood Concepts Early Learning, Upper Hutt
Rosemary Driver / Certificate of Excellence,Isle B Steinberger Prize / Birchwood Primary, Nelson
Ruth Wood / Certificate of Excellence /
Shelley Meehan / Certificate of Excellence / Hutt Valley High School
Teina Smith / Certificate of Excellence / St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie

ENDS

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