By Mrs Lisa Palmer, Director of Teacher Recruitment and Professional Learning

During our July Conference Week, we attended the Christian Schools Australia (CSA) State Conference, hosted by Wyong Christian School. One of our speakers was Dr. Jon. Eckert, a former teacher now Professor of Educational Leadership at Baylor University’s Centre for Christian Education in the US. I am a big fan of Dr. Eckert. I have read his books on teaching, and I am always encouraged to keep improving as  a teacher whenever I hear him speak on his podcast: Just Schools.

The basis of each episode involves a conversation between Dr. Eckert and a current classroom teacher or school leader. These interviews share the hope and joy they have as educators in their schooling context. But the bigger buzz for me is that the series values and respects the priceless impact that teachers have since–

Teaching is the profession that makes all others possible

Teaching certainly is the profession that makes all others careers possible. And in order to inspire and support each kid in our classrooms to be a positive influence in their future, teachers are committed to being life-long learners. One of the most humbling aspects of my role here is supporting our newly qualified teachers to achieve their accreditation as Proficient Teachers against the teaching standards. In NSW, each classroom teacher must be accredited with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Because we never stop learning, our teacher accreditation is maintained with ongoing professional learning. This means that as we continue to provide quality teaching and learning opportunities for our students, we can positively impact not only each child but those professions they will pursue post school.

This year we have had five of our newly qualified teachers accredited as Proficient.  The accreditation process involves lesson observations and evidence of the teacher’s best practice from their classroom teaching. Having spent time supporting each of these five wonderful teachers to fulfil each of NESA’s accreditation requirements, I am excited by the positive impact they will have on the students of MCCC. And I’m also excited to welcome them to this rewarding profession, knowing that as teachers they will make other professions possible amongst the students they teach and inspire.