Outstanding teachers and schools are being celebrated for their innovation and excellence, with finalists being announced for this year's Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today congratulated the 41 finalists across 14 award categories which recognise inspirational teachers, principals, and education support staff making a difference to the lives of students in Victorian government schools.
Some of this year's finalists include Chloe Wade, a teacher from Welshpool and District Primary School, who has improved student literacy and numeracy using data-driven and evidence-based practices. She also supports staff with disability inclusion, helping them to develop and refine individual learning plans for students with disability.
Secondary school leader at Victorian College for the Deaf, Robert Harrow, has been nominated for his leadership helping secondary year students. The college has enrolled students in the VCE for the first time in 15 years thanks to his work improving literacy and numeracy.
Western Port Secondary College is a finalist for its work introducing a consistent, high expectation, school-wide behavioural standard that its leaders model every day. VET participation, the school's VCE median study scores and staff wellbeing have all increased significantly.
Judging panels will determine the winners of each award, who will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, 24 October, a week before World Teachers' Day.
The awards also support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning grants of $20,000 available for each individual award winner, and $25,000 for each team award.
The winner of the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education – which honours Victoria's longest serving education minister and former Premier – receives a further professional learning grant of $20,000.
