Media Release
PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS’ COUNCIL NEW SOUTH WALES
CONTACT: David Browne (02) 9716 0378
25 October 2019
Celebration of Excellence
Friday 25 October 2019 is World Teachers’ Day and the Professional Teachers’ Council New South Wales (PTC NSW) joins the media in the recognition and celebration of our teachers and the teaching profession. “Teaching is the profession that teaches all of the other professions” – Author unknown.
World Teachers’ Day acknowledges the professionalism and dedication of teachers and their invaluable contribution to the future of our society through their professional teaching associations.
“The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day”-Todd Whittaker.
UNESCO first declared World Teachers’ Day in 1994. Communities around the world honour their teachers on this day.
“World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the work of all teachers. It is also a time to express gratitude to the many volunteer teaching associations and show them how much they are valued,” said Dr Denis Mootz, President of the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW.
“It is the opportunity for the community to reflect on and acknowledge the vital and challenging work that all teachers do” Dr Mootz said.
In recognition of the outstanding work teachers undertake through their professional teaching associations the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW awards the prestigious Outstanding Professional Service Awards (OPSA) as an acknowledgment of excellence in the profession.
The Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award (OBTA) recognises the outstanding professional contribution by an individual committee member (of a professional teachers’ Association) with five or less years teaching experience in education in NSW.
These awards acknowledge the outstanding professional contribution to education made by teachers through Professional Teaching Associations.
The Professional Teachers’ Council NSW is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 awards.
Outstanding Professional Service Award (OPSA) Recipients
| Nominating Association | Full Name |
| Association for Studies of Religion | Sandy Hollis |
| Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation | Hayley Dean |
| Australian Society for Music Education | Andrew Mifsud |
| Chinese Language Teachers Association of NSW Inc | Juan Yang |
| Classical Languages Teachers Association Inc. | Jann Hoyos |
| English Teachers Association NSW | Danielle Darwick |
| English Teachers Association NSW | Hayley Matas |
| Geography Teachers Association of NSW & ACT | Alexandria Warnock |
| Marine Teachers Association of NSW | David Rathbone |
| Mathematical Association of NSW | Jim MacDougall |
| Modern Language Teachers Association NSW | Janelle Byrne |
| Modern Language Teachers Association NSW | Sana Zreika |
| Orff Schulwerk Association of NSW | Susan Curbishley |
| Science Teachers’ Association of NSW | Deb de Ridder |
| Science Teachers’ Association of NSW | Julie Rogers |
| Technology Educators Association NSW | Melinda Buxton |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association | Aaron Landers |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association | Helen Yip |
Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award (OBTA) Recipients
| Nominating Association | Full Name |
| Mathematical Association of NSW | Jake Stephen Little |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association NSW | Jemima Hall |
2019 Media Award
Jordan Baker, Sydney schools go it alone amid debate about how ‘critical thinking’ should be taught, The Sydney Morning Herald, published 9 August 2019