One of the Cootamundra electorate’s teachers has been recognised as one of Australia’s best.
23 teachers across the State were awarded with the highest levels of accreditation at a prestigious ceremony in Sydney this week, including Grenfell’s Jillian Reidy of The Henry Lawson High School.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the awards recognise highly effective, innovative and exemplary teaching practice.
Mrs Reidy grew up in Coonabarabran and started teaching in Grenfell two decades ago. She has not looked back, committing to her career at The Henry Lawson High School ever since.
“Mrs Reidy really represents the cream of the crop; she has gone above and beyond the daily demands of the job to achieve excellence in their profession,” Ms Cooke said.
“She is using her expertise to lift the prospects of the children in our electorate, and I am proud and thankful for the work she is doing.”
Mrs Reidy teaches Visual Arts and said she couldn’t have done it without the support of her colleagues and school.
“I’m on a faculty within a school of exceptional teachers, at Henry Lawson High School, I am very fortunate to work here, it’s a small school that punches above its weight in a lot of areas.”
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said that teachers who achieve this level of accreditation are indispensable assets for their school communities as teaching experts, mentors and leaders.
“High quality teaching makes such a difference to the lives and learning of young people and sets them up for life,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Teaching across a whole school is undoubtedly enhanced when there are expert teachers to lead the improvement of teaching practice.”
At the event, the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW launched the NSW Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) Network. The Network will provide an opportunity for NSW HALTs to come together as leaders of the teaching profession and share their experience and expertise.
