16 October 2015

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training

Award Winners Recognised for Education Excellence

**STRICTLY UNDEREMBARGO UNTIL 10:00PM FRIDAY 16 October**

Congratulations to the 19 winners in the RBF Department of Education Awards for Excellence announced today.

The awards, an initiative of the Education Department, are due recognition of some of our very best public educators, volunteers and staff who have demonstrated outstanding excellence, innovation and talent.

It was my pleasure to present a number of the school-based awards, including the Principals and Teachers of the Year Award for Primary and Secondary schools won by staff from Austins Ferry Primary School, Launceston College, Glenora District School and Elizabeth College respectively.

I was also honoured to present recently retired President of the Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations Jenny Eddington with the Special Award for Exceptional Volunteer Services to Education, in recognition of her contribution to public education and the voice she has given to parents.

All the winners of the 2015 RBF Department of Education Awards for Excellence exemplify the high-quality work that is undertaken every day by staff and volunteers from across the Department.

These Awards, delivered in partnership with the Retirement Benefits Fund, Teachers Health Fund and Wrest Point, recognise excellence across our diverse education system and the variety of roles supporting learners within schools and communities.

I am greatly impressed by the talented and dedicated staff and volunteers working in public education and their focus on improving learning outcomes for our young people, and indeed all Tasmanians, throughout their lives.

For the finalists, I am sure it is particularly rewarding for them to receive the recognition of their peers and the wider Tasmanian community who nominated them for these Awards.

I am so pleased that the Tasmanian community, along with the Department, has been able to recognise their contribution to the delivery of high quality education and education services.

2015 RBF Tasmanian Education Award Winners:

OVERALL AWARD

RBF Secretary’s Award for Overall Excellence

• Keith Wenn, Principal Launceston College

School Awards

Principal of the Year – Early Years and Primary

• Anne Douglas, Principal Austins Ferry Primary School

Principal of the Year – Secondary

• Keith Wenn, Principal Launceston College

Teacher of the Year – Early Years and Primary

• Helen Rothwell, Year 5/6 Teacher Glenora District School

Teacher of the Year – Secondary

• Joe Pavic, Heath and Physical Education Teacher Elizabeth College

Teachers Health Fund Outstanding Young Teacher

• Emily Stevens, Learning Support Teacher Brooks High School

STAFF SUPPORTING LEARNING Awards

School Business Manager of the Year

• Leonie Johnston, School Business Manager Brooks High School

Support Employee of the Year

• John Klapsis, Security Officer Elizabeth College

Professional Support Specialist of the Year

• Sarah Baker, Support Teacher Orford Primary School

Service Awards (Department-Based)

Employee of the Year

• Philip Walker, Principal Leader, e-Learning

LINC Employee of the Year

• Garry Conroy-Cooper, Manager Launceston LINC

Wrest Point Young Employee of the Year

• Emma Quinn, Senior Internal Auditor

Team of the Year

• Jordan River Learning Federation Principals: Carolyn Brown, Della Wells, Robyn Storey, Teresa Pockett

SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARD

Outstanding Use of Innovation or Technology

• Scott MacCrum, Advanced Skills Teacher, Taroona High School

Community Awards

Volunteer of the Year Award

• Robyn Tiedeman and Glenda Ellis, Literacy Tutors at Burnie LINC

Special Award for Exceptional Volunteer Services to Education

• Jenny Eddington, Former President of the Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations

Images Available: Photos of all award finalists, including winners, are available for media use at https://www.flickr.com/photos/tas-education/albums/72157659154864358

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