Nine aspiring school leaders will now have the chance to share their groundbreaking work in education on a greater level after being selected as the recipients of Education Perfect’s (EP) inaugural Fellowship program.
The EP Fellows, chosen from a pool of nearly 300 applicants from every state and subject area, will each receive $1,000 each towards their studies, write a series of four thought leadership articles over the course of the year, and play a crucial role in shaping discourse on the future of education through their contributions.
This prestigious program – launched following the successful pilot EP Fellowship program in New Zealand earlier this year – aims “to empower educators undertaking post-graduate study to make a lasting impact in their fields of expertise and positions them as representatives for both their subject area and their region.”
"We were overwhelmed by the phenomenal response to the inaugural Australian EP Fellowship program. The applicants' dedication was evident, and the diverse education research being undertaken is compelling,” Poppie Johnson, Head of Writing at EP, said.
"These educators are the school leaders of tomorrow, and we are excited to learn from their research and explore their thoughts and reflections on the future of education."
The EP Fellows for the inaugural Australian EP Fellowship program are as follows:
- Suren Mendis - ACT - Secondary School Teacher - Burgmann Anglican School, Australian National University - Year 11 and 12 - Chemistry, Biology, and Earth & Environmental Science - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Australian Catholic University
- Julia Robertson - NSW - Classroom Teacher - Killara High School - Music - Masters in Education (Gifted) - UNSW
- Emily Ruth Shea - NT - Teaching and Learning Leader - Palmerston Christian College - Year 9 - Masters of Education Leadership - National Institute of Christian Education
- Kara Vaughan - QLD - Classroom Teacher - Helensvale State High School - Secondary School Visual Art and Literacy - PhD - University of Queensland
- Matt Jensen - QLD - Teaching and Learning Leader - Middle Years - St Mary's College Ipswich - Year 7-12 Technologies - Master of Education (Educational Leadership) - University of Wollongong
- Vide Freiberg - QLD - Teacher - Western Cape College - Art, Student Support 7-12 - Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Education - Queensland University of Technology
- Ruby Lyons-Reid - TAS - Senior Curriculum Officer - Aboriginal Education Services, Department for Education, Children and Young People - Graduate Certificate of Museum and Heritage Studies - Australian National University
- Anna Olimpia Rosenblum - VIC - Learning Leader - Languages - Padua College Mornington - Languages 7-12 - PhD (Education) - University of New England
- Allayne Horton - VIC - Secondary Teacher - Sacre Coeur - English - PhD (Education) - The University of Melbourne
Throughout the year, the EP Fellows will contribute their expertise through thought-provoking articles that cover topics such as culturally responsive indigenous practice, modern pedagogy for learning, digital learning, trauma-informed responses to student well-being, and more. Their insights will contribute significantly to the advancement of education and serve as valuable resources for educators worldwide.
Johnson said the overarching goal is to create a blog “that goes beyond surface-level discussions and delves into meaningful, relevant, and engaging content that addresses the real issues and challenges teachers face.”
“We want to explore what concerns classroom teachers and school leaders both at a subject-specific level and at a strategic pedagogical level,” she said.
Jimmy Bowens, Head of Brand Marketing at Education Perfect, said the success of the EP Fellowships’ New Zealand trial earlier in the year showed there was “real demand for this sort of work”.
“The response in Australia has been incredible. Many of the EP Fellows are enrolled in masters or PhD programs, and we are excited to learn from their research and benefit from their insights into the future of education,” Bowens said.
The first articles written by the EP Fellowship recipients will be released in August, providing educators and education enthusiasts with valuable insights and thought-provoking content. These highly anticipated contributions will be available on the EP Make a Difference blog to enrich the educational discourse and inspire positive change in classrooms around the world.
Learn more at here.