A classy bunch of our fledgling teachers feted in Brisbane
Published on 18 January, 2012
Four CQUniversity education students were among 22 applicants selected throughout Queensland for a Department of Education and Training 'Teacher Education Centre of Excellence' experience.
Final-year students Di Barrett and Kylie Barrand (Bundaberg), Anita Stockwell (Emerald) and Katie Chaseling (Noosa) were selected as part of a Statewide competitive application and interview process.
The Morayfield Cluster Teacher Education Centre of Excellence will work alongside the CQUniversity students to place them with a trained mentor teacher who will support them throughout their time with the centre. Access to extended classroom experiences will help the students hone their teaching expertise.
CQUniversity Education Dean Professor Helen Huntly recently attended a launch for the Morayfield Centre, at which Director Janet Banner commented on the high quality of the applicants and the exceptional quality of the selected pre-service teachers.
"Gary Francis, a Director within the Department of Education, Training and the Arts also expressed his high regard for the quality of the selected students, noting that they were indeed 'the best of the best'," Professor Huntly says.
"It was my pleasure to share this occasion with our exceptional Bachelor of Learning Management students."
Morayfield Cluster Head of Mentoring Kerri Holzwart says the program participants will be prioritised for employment with Education Queensland schools and may receive early offers of employment.
The program provides an extended employment induction process and continues into the students' first years as working teachers, to ensure additional mentoring.
The CQUniversity participants have been invited to attend special professional development programs at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. They will also engage with Morayfield Cluster online throughout the next two years, to help them specialise in 'literacy and numeracy in low SES settings'.
"Participants can access extra professional resources at Education Queensland even before they become teachers," Ms Holzwart said.