The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (New England Branch) and the New England Education Cooperative celebrated World Teachers Day in Australia on Friday 27 October 2023 with their Annual Awards evening.
The function was held at the Armidale Golf Club and was attended by more than one hundred people from the New England and North West area of New South Wales.
Teachers and educational leaders from public schools, private schools, Catholic schools and the University of New England were recognised for their outstanding work as teachers and leaders in a number of categories. Educational programs which have made a significant difference to student learning were also recognised.
All award recipients were selected following a rigorous nomination and selection process.
Four nominees received the William Walker Award for Outstanding Educational Leadership, while four Early Career Teachers received the Allan Kerr Memorial Award for excellence in classroom teaching in their first six years of teaching.
The list of Award winners includes:
WILLIAM WALKER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
- Associate Professor Ingrid Harrington, Coordinator, Commencing Student Success Project, University of New England.
- Chris Jackson, Director, educational leadership, Western Plains Principal Network, Department of Education.
- Denise Smoother, Principal, Sandon Public School.
- Deborah Nay, Principal, Armidale City Public School.
SISTER CATH DUXBURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMERGING EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
- Ray Pearson, Deputy Principal, The Armidale School.
- Jay Sisson, Assistant Principal, Sandon Public School.
ALAN KERR MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EARLY CAREER SERVICE
- Kiera-lee Hull, Teacher, Woolomin Public School.
- Natalie Hesselmans, Teacher, Armidale City Public School.
- Jordan Lane, Teacher, The Armidale School.
- Clare Bollen, Teacher, Narrabri Public School.
JA SUTHERLAND AWARD FOR A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION
- Lynne Clarke, Assistant Principal, Armidale City Public School.
- Leanne Kemp, Assistant Principal, Narrabri Public School.
- Deanna Ford, Stage 2 Teacher, New England Girls School.
HTB HARRIS AWARD FOR A SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION PROGRAM
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Uralla.
- Forensic Science Camp, The Armidale School.
- Commencing Student Success Project, University of New England.
One of the highlights of the evening was the Annual Lecture which was delivered by Professor Caroline Cohrssen, who spoke on the topic, “An unavoidable Truth, Distributed Responsibility for Teaching Quality”. Caroline words were well received by all present and captured the theme of the evening.
The evening was organized by a small group of people from various sectors who have the shared goal of recognising and rewarding outstanding teachers, educational leaders and educational programs. A truly worthy task.
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For more information about the Awards, please contact Peter Pickett, peterpickett4@gmail.com or Denise Smoother denise.smoother@det.nsw.edu.au.
Peter Pickett