Six of state's most inspiring teachers named for World Teachers' Day

Six of the state’s most inspiring teachers have been named winners of prestigious state teaching awards, as Queensland celebrates World Teachers’ Day today.

The winners include a teacher in the Torres Strait who has made an enormous difference for students with disabilities, a teacher who has helped boost student music participation and is helping music teachers around the world, and a principal who has overseen a massive increase in opportunities for his students and staff in the Logan community.

Another teacher has connected students with dozens of community organisations and exciting sporting opportunities, another provides a voice for severely disabled students and the sixth winner, who is described as a community icon in her mining town, is teaching the grandchildren of students she first taught four decades ago.

The winners of this year’s Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) TEACHX Awards are:

Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award: Laura Loucks, Tagai State College – Badu Island Campus

Excellence in Teaching Award: Carla Trott, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award: Andrew Peach, Marsden State High School

Innovation in Teaching Award: Jennifer Irving, Nambour Special School

Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award: Tamika Megawatt, Maroochydore State High School

The Courier-Mail Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award: Norah Parsons, Moura State High School

QCT Board Chair Professor Emeritus Wendy Patton also congratulated the six winners.

“Each of the winners has made an extraordinary difference in their students’ lives and their school communities,” Professor Emeritus Patton said.

“The QCT TEACHX Awards showcase the exceptional teaching we have in every schooling sector and in every geographical location of this state,” she said.

The winners were announced last night at a ceremony at Customs House. There were 30 finalists from among 243 nominations.

The TEACHX Awards are the only state government awards that recognise teachers from all schooling sectors and the early childhood education sector, across all subjects.

The QCT would like to thank, and acknowledge, its generous sponsors—TUH Health Fund, Teachers Mutual Bank. Schoolzine and The Courier-Mail—for their support of the TEACHX awards, Queensland teachers, and the profession state-wide.