Page 1442 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
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These positions will ensure that the ACT government schools continue to provide the very best education to every member of the ACT community and will deliver upon this government’s commitment to the constant improvement in teacher quality and practice.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, in which school will these teachers be placed?
MS BURCH: Again I thank the member for her question. The locations of these teacher positions for 2013 were identified through a consultative process through principals and the school network leaders. Twenty-one schools will employ the executive teacher (professional practice). The 10 primary schools are Ainslie, Bonython, Evatt, Garran, Kaleen, Macquarie, Mawson, Theodore and Yarralumla. The five high schools are Belconnen high, Calwell high, Canberra high, Lanyon high and Melrose high. The three preschool to year 10 schools are Amaroo, Harrison and Kingsford Smith. Gungahlin and Narrabundah colleges will receive these two teachers, as will Malkara.
These schools were selected based on how the position can add value to the outcomes of the students at the school. The positions will build capacity for quality teaching through modelling exemplary teaching practice and coaching and mentoring other teachers at the school. Further executive teacher (professional practice) positions will be identified for filling, as I have said, in 2014. As this network of teachers grows to include more and more schools, we will see a profound impact on teacher quality across the public education system. This, in turn, will ensure that more students are engaged in learning and equipped with the skills that will position them for lifelong success.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what other initiatives does the government have in place to recognise our best and brightest teachers?
MS BURCH: I thank the member for the question. As I have said previously, the importance of quality teachers and school leaders to improving student outcomes cannot be overstated. The ACT government is working to build a high-performing teaching profession. A key initiative has been the establishment of the ACT Teacher Quality Institute. The institute is now fully established and has recently completed its third annual teacher registration process. This registration process not only ensures that all teachers meet the qualification requirements; it also ensures that all teachers are engaged in continuing professional development.
Under the rewards for great teachers national partnership, teachers are accredited against the highly accomplished and/or lead levels of the standards and will be eligible for payment of $7½ thousand or $10,000 respectively. The national certification of teachers against the teaching standards complements the ACT initiative of executive teacher professional practice.
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