By Eleanor Wilson
Berwick College’s Taylah Quinn hasn’t even finished her second year as a high school English and Literacy teacher, but she is already being recognised among her peers for her hands-on teaching method.
Ms Quinn is one of 39 finalists in the 2022 Victorian Education Excellence Awards, recognising Victoria’s most inspirational teachers, principals, business managers, support staff and schools for their contribution to the education sector.
The 24-year-old is one of three finalists nominated for the Outstanding Early Career Secondary Teacher category, acknowledging effective and innovative teachers in the first five years of their teaching career.
According to Berwick College assistant principal Alison Birkett, it is Ms Quinn’s school training that has made the biggest impact on students at the school.
“Taylah is actually primary school trained so as an English teacher, teaching junior classes … that primary school knowledge is really beneficial,” she said.
Ms Quinn agrees her teaching approach is pivotal to her student’s learning.
“Relational teaching is my big thing. Making sure the kids want to come to my class. English is a hard one sometimes, they either like it or they don’t, so the first battle is making sure they want to be there, they’re invested and they care,” she said.
She said developing a strong relationship with her students aids in their learning and concentration.
“Just talking to them about their day, letting them get all of that out, so that it doesn’t then interrupt the learning further on, it really helps,” she said.
“I draw out that beginning of class routine a bit longer, to make sure the kids feel heard, so that when it comes to the work element of the class they’re ready to go.”
She said she was overwhelmed to be announced as a finalist.
“It was definitely a shock but I’m just really proud that I’m making an impact here.“
Ms Quinn is not the only Berwick College representative making an impact in the education sphere.
The school is also a finalist in the Outstanding Inclusive Education category, recognising the team of Learning Support Officers (LSO) at the school.
Mrs Birkett said the college has spent the last five years focusing on the relationship between students and LSOs.
The LSOs aid students with a diverse range of needs, Mrs Birkett said, including physical impairments, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision impairment.
“We want all students to want to come to school, to feel like they have a space at school, to feel like there’s somebody that cares about them at school and to feel like they can achieve success,” she said.
“We might have students that are at a Grade 3 level for reading. But if they are experiencing some learning growth, growth is growth. And we celebrate that.
“We want them to be able to access all the same things that every other student in the school is able to. I’m really really proud of that team and what they bring for our kids.”
The Victorian Education Excellence Awards support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning grants of $20,000 available for each individual award and $25,000 for each team award.
“These awards are a fantastic way to celebrate their contributions to our education sector – and recognise their invaluable work,” Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said.
One category winner will also receive the esteemed Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, which offers a further professional learning grant of $20,000.
Winners will be announced on Friday 21 October, 2022.
