PETAA Awards for Excellence in Primary English Teaching

PETAA is committed to supporting the work of primary teachers across Australia. To acknowledge the expertise and commitment of our members, we are delighted to announce the return of our awards: 

  • The PETAA Award for Excellence in Primary English Teaching (perfect for individual teachers) 
  • The PETAA School Award for Excellence in Primary English Teaching (perfect for whole schools or year groups/staff teams/cohorts)

The Awards will be conferred at the PETAA Leading with Literacy Conference on 20th October. The winner will be presented with a trophy, certificate, and receive a one-year complimentary membership of PETAA.

For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Helen Carmody, PETAA Head of Professional Learning.

 

>> 2023 Shortlists announced! << 

 

About the Award for Individual Teachers

This award recognises an outstanding teacher in a school in Australia. Nominees should provide qualitative and quantitative evidence to support each criteria. 

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered: . 

  • Positive impact on students' learning experiences and learning outcomes in literacy across the primary curriculum
  • Commitment to professional development and collaboration with colleagues to address student learning needs
  • Demonstrated commitment to the education profession

This award is open to current (or recent*) full-time and part-time teachers of primary English in Australia, and is also open to teachers in leadership positions. Applicants must be PETAA members.

 

  

About the Award for Schools

This award is open to PETAA member schools and seeks to recognise one PETAA school whose practice clearly demonstrates innovation and excellence in teaching primary English. Nominees should focus on an innovative program or school improvement plan,  either with a cohort or whole school and should provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of improvement or growth over the past 12 – 18 months to support each criteria. 

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered: . 

  • Consistently high standards of teaching and learning to acehive improved student learning outcomes in literacy
  • Rigorous professional learning to improve teaching and curriculum delivery to support literacy
  • Demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in student learning in literacy

Applicants must be PETAA members.

 

Nominations are now closed!

 
Timeline

Applications open: Friday 4th August 2023
Applications close: Friday 8th September 2023
Announcement of winners: 20th October (at the 2022 PETAA Leading with Literacy conference Day 1 drinks).  

*  Recent = Having worked with children in classrooms within the last 5 years.

Congratulations to our 2022 Award winners!

PETAA 2022 Teacher Award for Excellence in Primary English Teaching

Winner: Cindy Valdez-Adams

Cindy Valdez-Adams is a leader not just in the field of English - that is, with respect to all its strands of literacy, language and literature - where her work with EAL/D and students with refugee backgrounds is commendable, but also as an exemplar to her peers as an educator who strives to connect with, and uplift, the teachers around her. 

Her action research initiatives have undoubtedly improved the outcomes, and the wellbeing, of some of Australia’s most vulnerable students. 

Cindy’s positive impact on the profession is felt in classrooms across the country, where students have benefitted from her instruction grounded in rich literature and the arts. 

It is also felt by the many educators in her professional networks, or those who have participated in professional learning and development courses led by Cindy, where she has shared her strategies for improving vocabulary in EAL/D learners. 

2022 Finalists:

  • Joanne Balsarini (NSW)
  • Michael Cannavan (SA)
  • Maria Maiorana (NSW)
  • Rina Vecchiet (NSW)

 

 

PETAA 2022 School Award for Excellence in Primary English Teaching

Winner: The Nature School

The Nature School models a progressive, pedagogically rich learning environment that connects deep learning and English curriculum with the natural world. 

The school’s nature-based framework urges students and teachers to take English learning outdoors (and every member of the school community reads outside every Monday morning to demonstrate that reading is not just important for children).

The teaching team is uniquely committed both to promoting English through consistently evaluated programs and units that are created with the goal of cultivating lifelong readers and writers who care deeply about the environment and all living things. 

The Nature School constantly strives for improved outcomes for students, setting high standards for educators and providing them with strong in-school support to help them succeed. 

2022 Finalists:

  • Bunbury Primary School (WA)
  • Seymour College (SA)
  • St Joachim's Primary School (NSW)
  • St Laurence's College (NSW)