As part of the annual Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening, the Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award is a special award for a teacher excelling in their first years of teaching.
Nominations for the Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award are now closed
The Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award is for a teacher of 1-5 years graduate experience, who has demonstrated an excellent standard of classroom practice that has directly resulted in evidenced growth in faith and learning for students over the previous 12 month period.
Ordinarily, there will be an annual award presented to one Primary Early Career Teacher and one Secondary Early Career Teacher.
This award consists of a $2,000 scholarship to fund a suitable professional development opportunity, and also a framed certificate. Scholarship prizes are to be redeemed within two (2) years of the date of being awarded unless otherwise approved by the Head of Human Resource Services.
Eligibility for the outstanding early career teacher award
All teachers of 1-5 years graduate experience currently employed in CEDoW are eligible to be nominated for the Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award.
An Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award can only be conferred once for any individual teacher, however further nominations may be resubmitted for previous nominees, if supported by current evidence at the time of the subsequent nomination, up until the completion of the teacher's fifth year of experience.
AWARD Criteria
Evidence of the nominee’s impact on student learning through:
- Excellent classroom practice; and/or
- Excellent student management for learning engagement; and/or
- Involvement as a collaborative team member; and/or
- Involvement in extra-curricular and/or faith formation activities.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Used innovative approaches to ensure that faith formation programs recognise the diversity of faith backgrounds in the school; and/or
- Used effective pedagogical practices to differentiate teaching and learning in the classroom, resulting in highly improved learning outcomes for students; and/or
- Worked as active team members of the school community who works collaboratively with colleagues to improve student outcomes.
2019 Outstanding Early Career Teacher Awards
Primary – Bridgette Duffell, St Michael’s Nowra
Secondary – Savannah Lloyd, St John the Evangelist Nowra
2018 Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award
Vincent Iacono, Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan
2017 Outstanding Early Career Teacher Awards
Primary – Siobhan Rooney, Stella Maris Catholic Parish Primary School, Shellharbour
Secondary – Zachary Ellul, St Joseph's Catholic High School, Albion Park
PROCESS FOR NOMINATIONS
1. Complete the online nomination form before the advertised closing date (Friday 1 October 2021). All staff currently employed in CEDoW are eligible for nomination for these awards.
2. If nominating a colleague, please ensure that the nominee is aware of, and accepts, your intention to nominate them. Self-nominations are also accepted.
3. Complete the three sections of the online nomination form (description of achievement, impact and evidence) with reference to the relevant criteria.
4. Attach any supporting evidence. This should include:
- A list of relevant activities, PD or professional involvement that demonstrate the nominee’s contribution; and/or
- Supporting evidence outlining the nominee’s achievements (eg: details of the range of activities and professional involvement that demonstrate the nominee’s contribution; any documentary evidence of the nominee’s achievements such as newspaper clippings, photos, certificates); and/or
- A photograph of the nominee.
5. Discuss your nomination with the Principal/Head of Service (HoS) or their delegate to ensure that:
- The quality of the nomination is appropriate and well supported by the documentation; and
- The Principal/HoS endorses the nomination.
6. Ensure that the ‘Principal’s/HoS’s Endorsement’ section of the nomination form has then been completed.
7. Your nomination will be acknowledged and an email receipt sent.
8. The Moderating Panel will assess the nominations, shortlist eligible applications, and make recommendations to the Director of Schools through the Awards and Recognition Organising Committee.
9. Invitations will be sent to shortlisted nominees, and their nominators, to attend the Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening.
10. On the evening, successful award recipients will be conferred and all other shortlisted nominees in attendance will be acknowledged.
View the 'Process for Submitting Staff Award Nominations' flowchart here.
LIGHTING THE WAY FAITH AND LEARNING RECOGNITION AWARDS EVENING
The Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening will be held on Friday, 1 April 2022 from 7pm at The Cube, Campbelltown Catholic Club.
The annual Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our CEDoW teachers and staff. It is an official and esteemed event in the annual diocesan calendar, attended by all the evening's nominees, and supporting school staff, principals and CEO personnel.
