On 27 August, hundreds of Australia’s education elite from across the country will converge in Sydney for the fourth annual Australian Education Awards.
Awards will be presented in 28 categories recognising the work of the schools and individuals making their mark in the sector.
One of the accolades up for grabs on the night will be Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government, which recognises the most outstanding primary school teacher in an Australian independent 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 independent primary schools in 2021.
TE: Why has Teachers Mutual Bank chosen to sponsor the Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government Award?
At Teachers Mutual Bank we are dedicated to supporting the entire education community. We understand that teachers go above and beyond to care for their students and provide enriching education experiences. In the wake of the many challenges of the past 12 months, it is more important than ever to recognise the 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 do you think events like this are 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 wider education community. It creates an opportunity for teachers from across the sector to engage and collaborate with each other and recognise each other’s achievements.
TE: What are some of the most important challenges facing non-government primary schools in Australia today, and in what ways are Teachers Mutual Bank helping educators in this sector address them?
One of the most important challenges facing the education community is the many changes to the way our schools operate, due to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resilience this requires. To keep students engaged while the world around them is constantly changing is an incredible feat that shows commitment and passion for learning.
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 non-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 and professional development programs, such as the Harvard Scholarship, Future Teachers Scholarship and the Teachers Mutual Bank Emerging Leaders Scholarship.