A school raising the career aspirations of young people and a primary teacher who is passionate about increasing women in STEM education and careers are among the finalists of this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Minister for Education James Merlino announced the 28 finalists across nine award categories today, congratulating them on their achievements.
The awards recognise inspirational teachers, principals and support staff who get the best out of their students.
Whether by inspiring young minds, contributing to better classroom results or delivering new teaching strategies – the finalists are all positively shaping young lives.
Finalists include:
- Year 10 leading teacher Karen Anders from Traralgon College, who has improved student engagement and retention using a clever rewards system that sees students claim prizes for meeting set targets
- Canterbury Primary School teacher Emma Ross has developed STEM literacy programs for disengaged writers and a “Makerspace” where students and teachers design and invent using activity areas including a robotics and electronics zone and a lego and construction zone
- Lighting Reef Primary School in Bendigo has - along with several other local schools - joined forces with local businesses to run a “Passions and Pathways” program. Students are given a taste of the careers they might like to pursue by undertaking workplace tours and workshops.
Award categories include Outstanding Koorie Education, Outstanding Inclusive Education, Outstanding School Advancement, Outstanding Education Support Team, Outstanding Business Manager, Outstanding Primary Teacher, Outstanding Secondary Teacher, Outstanding Primary Principal and Outstanding Secondary Principal.
As the Andrews Labor Government makes Victoria the Education State, we want Victorians to be proud of the great government schools in their communities and the people who work in them.
Winners will be announced on 27 October at a ceremony at the Plaza Ballroom.
More information about the awards and finalists is available at
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“The Victorian Education Excellence Awards are the state’s most prestigious celebration of the outstanding teachers, principals and support staff who go that extra mile to help young Victorians thrive at school.”
“All finalists deserve our praise and thanks for the crucial work they are doing to give Victorian kids a great education.”
Finalists are:
OUTSTANDING SECONDARY PRINCIPAL AWARD
Steven Cook (Albert Park College)
David Sutton (Maryborough Education Centre)
Jane Mersey (Trafalgar High School)
OUTSTANDING PRIMARY PRINCIPAL AWARD
Kim Laffan (Kilmore Primary School)
Brent Richards (Clifton Springs Primary School)
Di Craig (Specimen Hill Primary School)
OUTSTANDING SECONDARY TEACHER AWARD
Karen Anders (Traralgon College)
Luke Peak (Chaffey Secondary College)
Nicole Marie (Point Cook Senior Secondary College)
OUTSTANDING PRIMARY TEACHER AWARD
Emma Ross (Canterbury Primary School)
Nicole Tierney (Knox Park Primary School)
Riley Corrie (Swan Hill Specialist School)
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS MANAGER AWARD
Lisa Gray (Northern Bay P-12 College)
Kylie Roskosch (South Geelong Primary School)
Brett Coad (Kurnai College)
OUTSTANDING EDUCATION SUPPORT TEAM AWARD
Berwick College
Cranbourne East Secondary College
Sale College – Guthridge Campus
OUTSTANDING KOORIE EDUCATION AWARD
Berwick College
Kurnai College
Thornbury Primary School
OUTSTANDING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AWARD
Baltara School and Bendigo Special Developmental School
North East Flexible Learning Network, Wodonga Senior Secondary College
Croxton School and Thornbury High School
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT AWARD
Pakenham Hills Primary School
Lightning Reef Primary School with Specimen Hill Primary School and Eaglehawk Primary School
Swan Hill North Primary School
Northern Bay P-12 College
Reviewed 19 August 2020