Qld Principal wins national award

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek has congratulated Cairns West State School Principal Michael Hansen for winning a prestigious national award for leadership in Indigenous education.

Mr Langbroek said Mr Hansen was named as one of the country’s leading educators at last night’s Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership in Adelaide.

“Michael Hansen is a very worthy recipient of the Australian Government Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching or Leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Under his leadership, Cairns West State School has introduced the Academic Success Guarantee program which has seen significant improvements in student performance and attendance rates.

“I congratulate Michael for his inspirational and innovative approach to Indigenous education, which has rightly won him a place among the highest calibre school leaders in the country.”

Mr Langbroek said Mr Hansen had been presented with a professional learning scholarship, valued at up to $25,000, from the Australian Government.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity for Michael to expand his professional knowledge and leadership in the field of Indigenous education, by travelling interstate or overseas to work with some of the world’s leading experts,” he said.

Mr Langbroek said Mr Hansen was one of six Queensland finalists, who were selected from a pool of outstanding nominations.

“Congratulations to all of our finalists who consistently set the bar high for teaching and leadership in Queensland schools,” he said.

“Being nominated as a finalist in these exclusive awards is an achievement in its own right, with  each state and territory limited to putting forward only one nomination for each of the six categories.”

The annual awards program is coordinated by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). For more information, visit www.aitsl.edu.au/recognising-excellence/2012-awards/2012-awards.html.

[ENDS] 6 December, 2012

Media Contact: Carrie Barlow 0409 110 657

A list of Queensland finalists in the 2012 Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership follows.

Australian Primary Teacher of the Year (including special education)
Kaye North, Sunbury State School

Australian Secondary Teacher of the Year (including special education)
Wiliam Curthoys, Oakey State High School

Australian Primary Principal of the Year (including special education)
Margaret Gurney, Goodna State School

Australian Secondary Principal of the Year (including special education)
Donald McDermid, Proserpine State High School

Australian Early Childhood Teacher of the Year
Linda Vella, Eimeo Road State School

The Australian Government Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching or Leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Michael Hansen, Cairns West State School (2012 winner)