Aspiring teachers show the future is bright for Queensland classrooms

Published Wednesday, 27 April, 2016 at 04:41 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events
The Honourable Kate Jones

Queensland’s teaching stocks have been bolstered after more than 90 teachers and aspiring teachers were rewarded in a special ceremony in Brisbane, Education minister Kate Jones said today.

Ms Jones said she was impressed with the calibre of entries across all categories, including for the new Teacher Education Centre for Excellence: STEM scholarship.

“Today’s awards recognise students, graduates and teachers who are excelling in their studies and demonstrating the dedication, skills and knowledge we look for in Queensland classrooms,” Ms Jones said.

“The high quality of entries shows we are getting the best and brightest into classrooms here in Queensland, particularly in STEM subjects.

“As the Advance Queensland Innovation and Investment Summit kicks off today, it’s particularly important that STEM teaching is receiving this boost.

“Our first scholarships under TECE: STEM were awarded to 18 quality final year pre-service teachers from the Teacher Education Centre for Excellence based at Benowa State High School.

“They will receive a $25,000 bursary and be matched with experienced teachers who will support and mentor them for up to one year, providing at least 100 hours of additional professional learning.

“This is part of our Advancing Education plan to improve teacher quality in STEM so they can help students prepare for jobs of the future in a digital economy.

“The new scholarship complements the existing Step into STEM Teaching Scholarship which helps attract the best people to teach across these disciplines.”

A total of 26 people were awarded Step into STEM Teaching Scholarships which provide up to $25,000 to assist with study and employment expenses and a permanent role in a state school once they qualify as teachers.

Jessica Schofield, who received a Step into STEM Teaching Scholarship in 2015 and now teaches at Injune P-10 State School, said it helped ensure a smooth transition from university to career.

“It helped me gain practical experience, internships and contracts in my desired region and re-affirmed that a small rural school was where I wanted to begin my career,” Ms Scofield said.

“The STEM disciplines are interwoven and work together to explain, change and advance the world.

“When teaching, these areas lend themselves to open-ended and real-world tasks that are engaging and meaningful to students.

“I am keen to share my passion for these disciplines with my junior secondary students and help equip them with the STEM-based skills that the workforce and the world are seeking.”

Other scholarships, grants and certificates awarded today included:

  • Aspiring Teacher Grants of $1500 for 24 school leavers with an OP 1 to 5, encouraging some of the state’s highest-achieving students to follow their passion into teaching.
  • Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships valued at up to $20,000 over four years to help 9 people from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds study teaching or upgrade their academic qualifications.
  • The $5000 Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary, which this year went to Dwayne Wyles of Townsville, currently in his second year of study towards a Bachelor of New Media (Music and Sound) through James Cook University. The bursary is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students entering their second or third year of university study.
  • TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarships of up to $10,000 were awarded to 10 high-achieving Year 12 students. Five received highly commended certificates.

Member for Bulimba Di Farmer represented the Minister at today’s ceremony, awarding certificates to the 15 schools from which TJ Ryan recipients graduated in 2015.

More information on the scholarships and grants, including the list of winners, is available at www.teach.qld.gov.au.

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