Rotary Altona City recognised seven of the region’s best teachers at the sixth annual Hobsons Bay Rotary Teacher Awards held on Tuesday, October 10.
Rotary district governor Ron Payne, an educator whose career spanned 47 years, presented the Rotary Vocational Service Awards to teachers nominated by their schools.
The awards comprised three Encouragement Awards for early career stage teachers, an Achievement Award for a more experienced teacher, and a Team Award where a team had collaborated effectively to address an important new development for a school.
Bayside College nominated senior leading teachers Analia Diego for Student Wellbeing, Belinda Chandler for Disability Inclusion, and Judy Douglas for Student Learning, all for their work to introduce a Disability Inclusion program into the school.
The model the team is developing is a positive approach to support students with disabilities to learn alongside their peers in a supportive classroom environment.
Emmanuel College nominated Heather Barlow from St Paul’s Campus and Maily Pham from the Notre Dame Campus for each making exceptional starts to their teaching careers.
Williamstown High School nominated second-year teacher Tim Lilley for an encouragement award for reinventing the debating program at the senior campus where the teams have excelled in a highly competitive league.
ACRC president Danny Civitico said the award ceremony was a delight.
“It was an absolute delight and privilege to hear of the hard work that our educators do to ensure our children get the best education they can,“ he said.
“This year in particular I was most impressed with the quality of nominations and the projects that the up and coming and established teachers were implementing to enrich the learning experience.
“I was particularly impressed and interested to hear about the diversity in schools programs being run to ensure that all children regardless of ability and mobility are catered for and receive a high level of education.
“I look forward to next years events where there will no doubt be more interest and some great initiatives.“
