- Posted on 1 Nov 2023
- 3-minute read
Congratulations to FASS Education graduate Meg Anderson, who was recently awarded the 2023 Early Career Educator Award by The Teachers’ Guild of NSW, in recognition of her outstanding work at Penrith Christian School.
Winners of the award are recognised as educators, in their second or third year of teaching, who are going above and beyond what is normally expected.
The Teachers' Guild of NSW seeks to promote its core values and to assist the teaching profession through a range of activities, such as the awards to recognise both early career teachers and those with a lifetime of classroom experience, research contributions to classroom learning, and to encourage the maintenance of professional standards in Education.
Meg was presented the award by Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney The Hon. Prue Car MP, and was joined on the evening by colleague Ella Stoddard and two of her former UTS Education academics, Dr Lauren Knussen and Dr Annie Agnew.
Meg says of the experience
I feel very honoured to receive the Teachers’ Guild Early Careers Educators award. Ever since my own schooling, I have felt great support from educators around me. This experience was no different. I was nominated by my principal to apply and supported by my supervisor to complete the application. I was excited to become a finalist and met with members of the Teachers’ Guild for my interview and then again at the awards ceremony. Their overwhelming joy for the profession and focus on learning could not be missed. On the evening, it was a pleasure to hear from excellent teachers in the profession about their passion and love for learning.
I decided I would become a teacher when I was quite young and have always gravitated towards leading and teaching in child focused, educational contexts. My approach is to plan engaging lessons that create connections between the classroom and real-world experiences for the learner. I work hard to ensure that my teaching is always student centred and continue to research new practices. I am mindful of my partnership with families and aim for great involvement from parents and external professionals. I like to continually reflect and refine my practice through training and collegial conversations.
UTS was a wonderful place to study education. The course was strategically planned to give us early and regular experience in the classroom. These experiences were further supported in tutorials and assignments. Years later I continue to rave about the academics at UTS. They were extremely experienced, connected and relational. In the years following they have continued to offer advice and support. Running into two of my lecturers at the Teachers’ Guild award ceremony was a great delight! A new chance to meet each other now as colleagues and reconnect.