Seeking the best and brightest

The Western Australian College of Teaching Mentor Excellence Awards recognise the dedication, skills and passion of mentors. The awards acknowledge the outstanding work being done in Western Australian schools by mentors to support those entering or returning to the teaching profession.

Effective mentors have well-developed professional knowledge, skills, enthusiasm for teaching and a willingness to share the expectations, knowledge and practices of the profession. They are vital to ensuring quality of teaching in Western Australian schools.

Mentors come in many guises: formal or informal; short- or long-term; peer, colleague or senior. Irrespective of the basis of the arrangement, effective and supportive mentors are always valued. Rarely does a successful teacher not have a mentor to thank for help, guidance and support in achieving their career goals.

The Western Australian College of Teaching has acknowledged the value of mentors by establishing policy and process for Provisionally Registered Teachers that endeavours to ensure mentoring support for graduate teachers.

In establishing these Mentor Excellence Awards, the College salutes all those who have given time to support graduate teachers and all those graduates whose commitment to their profession has resulted in gaining Registered Teacher status.

 

Mentor Excellence Awards 2009

The 2009 Mentor Excellence Awards were presented on 29 May at the Beginning and Returning Teachers’ Seminar at The Vines Resort and Country Club.

Winners were selected by a judging panel comprising members of the Western Australian College of Teaching Professional Learning and Standards Committee from nominees chosen by their mentees. The award winners were:

GESB $3000 Mentor Excellence Award
Louise Secker, Shenton College, Shenton Park
Saron Education Ltd $3000 Mentor Excellence Award
Rick Gendle, Mindarie Senior College, Clarkson
Western Australian College of Teaching $3000 Mentor Excellence Award
Peta Marinoni, St Bernar's Primary School, Kojonup
Western Australian College of Teaching $3000 Mentor Excellence Award
Danelle Turner, Ravensthorpe District High School


The 2009 Mentor Excellence Awards winners and their mentees. Photo: Rob Securo

The College also congratulates the finalists - Suzanne Keay, Middle Swan Primary; Fae Turner, Bentley Primary; Rebecca Sutton, Waroona District High; Karyn Barbarich, Banksia Hill Education Centre, Canning Vale; Elaine Lewis, Chrysalis Montessori School; Gary Adamson, Shenton College; David Moulden, Collie Senior High; Helen Pynes, Yokine Primary; Helen Hagdorn, Thornlie Senior High; Ann Franich, Chisholm Catholic College, Inglewood; Nicole Brown, Peter Moyes Anglican Community College, Quinns Rocks; Gerhard May, Swan Christian College; Bill Allen, University of Sunshine Coast and formerly of Perth College, and Patricia van Kann, Holy Spirit School, Floreat.

For more images from the awards ceremony and the seminar, click here.

The College acknowledges the generosity of corporate sponsors GESB and Saron Education Ltd in supporting these awards.

 

How to nominate your mentor

2009 nominations closed. 2010 nomination details coming soon.

Those nominating their mentor for an award must address each of the selection criteria below and provide evidence to support the
nomination. Nominations should be:

  • Typed on plain A4 paper, minimum of 10 point font and stapled on the left hand corner;
  • No more than three pages plus the completed application form as the cover page.

Conditions of entry
2009 entries closed.

To be considered for the award the following conditions must be met:

  • Nominations must be received by close of business on 17 April, 2009 marked Private and Confidential to:
      Mentor Excellence Awards Coordinator
      Western Australian College of Teaching
      GPO Box 2607
      PERTH 6001
  • Nominations are to be made by a Provisionally Registered Teacher who completed the College requirements for Registered Teacher status in 2007 or 2008.
  • The nominator must have been mentored in the course of their provisional registration by the Registered Teacher they are nominating for an award.
  • Nominator and nominee are to be available for an interview as part of the selection process.
  • Nominees must be in good standing with the Western Australian College of Teaching.
  • The winners and the mentee who nominated them will be invited to be guests at the award ceremony at the Beginning and Returning Teachers’ Seminar on 29 May 2009 at The Vines Resort and Country Club.
  • All nominators and nominees will agree to the final decision of the selection panel.

Selection criteria

  • Describe how your mentor has supported or inspired you to develop as a Provisionally Registered Teacher.
  • Provide examples of how your mentor communicated and shared knowledge, ideas and experiences in their role as mentor.
  • Describe how your mentor demonstrated and modelled the Western Australian Professional Standards of Teaching in their role as mentor.

To download the nomination form, please click here.