On 27 August, hundreds of Australia’s education elite from across the country will converge in Sydney for the fourth annual Australian Education Awards, which will be presented in 28 categories recognising the work of the schools and individuals making their mark in the sector.
One of the Awards up for grabs on the night will be Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government, which recognises the most outstanding public primary school teacher in an Australian school.
The Award judges the educators’ consistently high standards of teaching; innovation in developing students and supporting their learning; commitment to professional development and collaboration with colleagues to address student learning needs; and engagement with parents and the wider school community.
Sponsoring the Awards will be Teachers Mutual Bank, which supports teachers and their families with savings accounts, loans, insurance, term deposits, credit cards and more.
Below, The Educator speaks to Conor Kiernan, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, about why the company has chosen to sponsor the award, and how it will be building upon the great work it has done already to better support government primary schools in 2021.
TE: Why has Teachers Mutual Bank chosen to sponsor the Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government Award?
At Teachers Mutual Bank we are dedicated to supporting the education community. We understand that our teachers go above and beyond to create an amazing education experience for their students. In the wake of the many challenges in the past 12 months – the COVID-19 pandemic and floods disasters –it is vital that we recognise the important role our teachers play. We believe sponsoring this award is one way for us to actively demonstrate our support for the education community.
TE: Why are events like this important for the K-12 education sector more broadly?
Events like this are so important to provide an opportunity for teachers to share their stories within the education community. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way we operate in our everyday lives, making it harder to find the opportunity to share stories and knowledge. These awards create a dedicated space to share and acknowledge the amazing work being done in the sector.
TE: What are some of the factors you believe make a great primary school?
We believe a good primary school is built upon the foundations set by teachers and principals. Primary school plays a formative role in the lives of our students, and it’s an important time for them to develop key skills they will take throughout their entire learning career. A great primary school has great teachers who show special care for their students, and go above and beyond to ensure they succeed.
TE: What are some of the ways that Teachers Mutual Bank will be building upon the great work it has done already to better support government primary schools in 2021?
This year we are looking forward to once again supporting the Regional Teachers Mentorship program with Bell Shakespeare. This exciting program helps teachers bring Shakespeare to life in the classroom. We will also be continuing to support the education community through scholarships, grants, donations, industry conferences and professional development programs, such as the Harvard Scholarship, Future Teachers Scholarship and the Teachers Mutual Bank Emerging Leaders Scholarship.