NOVEMBER 2017 Stories About WA's Top Public School Principals
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NOVEMBER 2017 Stories about WA’s top public school principals, teachers and support staff WA PREMIER’S PRIMARY TEACHER made him a better person and, ultimately, a “Carl’s classroom is a place where OF THE YEAR better teacher. questions are posed rather than answers “I’m always telling my students that the provided. Students are challenged to succeed,” willingness to work hard, persist when things she says. are tough, and being able to bounce back from “He demands high standards and setbacks is far more important than IQ,” he intellectual rigour from his students to ensure says. they are completely immersed in the learning For the past five years Carl’s been process.” teaching a class of the brightest In the classroom, Carl tells a students at Wattle Grove good story. Primary School in Perth’s “I think I inherited hills. some of my parents’ It’s an innovate sense of the WA Premier’s concept where dramatic,” he says. Primary Teacher of the 10 most “Helping And with the Year finalists academically more than Top to bottom: gifted students students become 29 years of Anthony Horn, West from Years teaching Beechboro Primary 4, 5 and 6 behind him, School; Alexandria are in a class he has many Guthrie, Roebuck more resilient and together, stories to tell. Primary School; with Carl at “I teach Jessica Stevens, the helm to persistent is crucial my students Baynton West challenge and circus skills Primary School inspire them to them achieving – riding intellectually, unicycles, physically and their potential. juggling and emotionally. ” spinning plates. While the It’s an excellent way academic outcomes to develop coordination, have been outstanding, the cross-brain switching, lessons stimulating and every persistence and social skills,” he project exciting, Carl is focused on shaping explains. individuals who are proud of themselves. “At the end we put on a big show for the “The best piece of advice I’ve ever junior primary students. received is to be true to yourself, don’t just “One year I had the bright idea of follow the crowd,” he says. including a magic act. I love being in my “I’m always talking with my class workshop at home and making things so I about people such as Nelson Mandela and designed and built a box that would allow my Rosa Parks – people with moral courage student magician to saw a student assistant in who didn’t stand by and let wrong things go half. unchallenged. “As I’ve always been an upper primary “Being true to your own beliefs and being teacher, I made the mistake of not considering prepared to stand up for them – that’s what I the sensibilities of my young audience. want to pass on to my students.” “When my magician sawed the assistant There’s no denying Carl is true to in half, terrified five year olds were convinced himself, which is one of his most endearing we had killed her! Platinum Partner and likeable characteristics. “To this day, I’m pretty sure there is nicycles lined up outside the there’s a softer side to his story that he’s not “People say that I have a good sense of a group of young adults who would still BHP is a leading global resources Makingclassroom, complex algebraic magicafraid to share. humour, but not a conventional one. I have remember that act.” company. Our commitment to equations written on the whiteboard, “I live by the saying that nothing in life a love of the absurd and the ridiculous,” he Apart from the fun, surprising and education is derived from the gigantic real-life whale ribs worth having comes easily,” he explains. smiles. sometimes outrageous experiences, Carl knowledge that access to quality Uleaning against the wall and cars powered by “My father passed away when I was five “I’m a proud science geek! I’m always hopes his students will remember that, in his education unlocks potential and mousetraps lined up in a row on shelves. This which was obviously a life changing event in demand for quiz nights – I love facts and classroom, they were in a place where they benefits not only the individual is the classroom of Carl Sanderson. for my mother who was left with four young odd bits of useless information. I mean, who could be themselves, a place where difference but also communities, regions and the state. We have proudly Meeting Carl for the first time and children. As devastating as this was, I believe doesn’t know that there are seven parts to a was celebrated and valued. IM supported the WA Education catching him in action, it’s clear he’s an it was a defining period of my life. It made spider’s leg?” Awards for the past eight years amazing teacher. His students are enthralled us resilient and strong – and I learnt that life Joelle Greenway, chair of the school and applaud the outstanding by his every word. He’s a tall man, loud and doesn’t always go to plan.” board, says Carl’s passion for lifelong learning contributions of passionate boisterous. He’s humorous and full of fun. Yet It was this experience that Carl believes is inspiring. educators and staff. 2 3 uilding robots, engineering remote controlled submarines and WA PREMIER’S researching wildlife in the wetlands SECONDARY – authentic, real-life and hands-on Bexperiences for students are central to Jade TEACHER OF Warrington’s teaching. THE YEAR “Jade just isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty. She does everything she asks of her students,” says colleague Lorraine Ellis, head of science at Newton Moore Senior High School. The science and engineering teacher – who is also the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) coordinator – is a self-proclaimed “Lego WA Premier’s Secondary Teacher of fiend” and “nerd full of lame science jokes”. the Year finalists She’s also the master of invention. Left to right: Designing and making models alongside her Hayden Brown, Broome Senior High School; young inventors, she doesn’t put a lid on what Tyril Houghton, Bunbury Senior High School; they do. Judith Gauci, Willetton Senior High School Being ‘real’ is something that comes up a lot with Jade. She knows that her actions and words have a great impact on students She recently introduced her students to a It was during her time as a year coordinator that set him on track – but it’s nice to think you and wants to be a positive role model for the 3D printer and says they were blown away. that she learnt just how much of a difference can play a small part in putting someone on the world’s future scientists. “Many hadn’t seen one in action, some teachers can make. right path to a better future. You can often catch Jade and her students hadn’t even heard of a 3D printer,” she says “A student in my year group had lost “I am an extremely lucky person because working in the school’s onsite wetlands or with a smile. interest in school towards the end of Year 12 and teaching is not my job, it’s my vocation.” IM experimenting with soil and coffee. Students in “Seeing students make a connection probably wouldn’t graduate,” she remembers. one of her Year 9 science classes have worked between what they are learning and what is “I arranged for him to complete his with the City of Bunbury to plan and research happening in their lives, or realising that how work during breaks at school with access to a sites for Osprey nests in the Leschenault Inlet they are learning will help them in the future, computer, books and the internet – things he mangroves. Students in another class have that’s really rewarding.” didn’t have at home. taken water samples of Koombana Bay and With an 11 year career under her belt, the “He was really reluctant to complete his “It’s really surveyed the local dolphin population. mother of two says she never takes what she work, and not impressed with the fact that I was “It’s really rewarding to see students step does for granted. so persistent. During breaks, I’d go out and find out of their comfort zones and work together “Teachers come into contact with many him in the school grounds when he didn’t turn rewarding to see to try something new,” she says. “Through students throughout the course of the day, up.” group work and problem solving, I like to week and year. They are in a position to make Her efforts were worth it – she got to see students step out make sure students are confident when they go a positive impact on so many lives – it’s a him graduate at the end of that year. out in the real world and look for jobs. privilege not to be taken lightly,” she says. “His mum told me he was the first person in “My classes deal with real life, it has Not only does she take a whole-class his family to finish school and he said I was the of their comfort meaning and students are contributing to their approach in her teaching, she also considers reason he finished school and got into TAFE,” community.” each student’s learning style. Jade says. “Ultimately he made good choices zones and work together to try something new.” Platinum Partner 4 INSPIRINGinvention 5 WA PRIMARY PRINCIPAL espect is a powerful and emotive effective reading instruction, and refined data OF THE YEAR word.