Media release
Excellence in Literacy Teaching award
Tuesday 4 September 2007
The 2007 Australian Literacy Educators Association, Top End Council Excellence in Literacy Teaching award has been presented to Graeme Robinson, teaching principal of Amanbidji School, some 370km south west of Katherine.
Graeme, or Reg, as he is better known, has been teaching at the very remote Amanbidji School for over 7 years and is highly regarded by his colleagues in the Katherine Group Schools. In nominating Reg for the award they cited his ability to inspire his students, his innovative and engaging programs, and his strong focus on assessment and reporting.
Reg acknowledged the help from other staff, "I could not do it without the support and dedication of my school tutor, Fran Clarke. We are a team.
"We try to develop a good working relationship with students and then to maintain our support and guidance as they move into high school and even beyond the community.
Keeping parents and the community involved as much as possible is really important and so is making things interesting and different for the students with activities like field trips to Kununnura and Darwin," said Mr Robinson.
Amanbidji School’s consistent achievement of Literacy Benchmarks is testament to the dedication and innovative programs of Reg and Fran and the support of their community.
The Excellence in Literacy Teaching award was presented at the launch of Education Week 2007, in Darwin , which included the National Literacy and Numeracy Week Awards Ceremony. The following awards were presented:
- NT National Literacy and Numeracy Week Excellence Award, sponsored by DEST
- NT National Literacy and Numeracy Week Highly Commended Award, sponsored by DEST
- Excellence in Engaging with Asia Award, sponsored by the Engaging in Asia Project
- Excellence in Language Teaching Award, sponsored by the Language Teachers Association NT
- Excellence in Literacy Teaching Award, sponsored by the Australian Literacy Educators Association, Top End Council
- Social Educators’ Association of the NT Award
To find out more about National Literacy and Numeracy Week, go to www.literacyand numeracy.gov.au