LOCAL primary school teacher Ana Nail has been nominated as a finalist in the 2014 WA Education Awards.
Hailing from Geographe Primary School, Ms Nail has been selected to compete for WA Premier’s Primary Teacher of the Year.
A visual arts teacher, Ms Nail has been nominated by her school board for her fantastic work with her students, her involvement with teacher development for visual arts and her work with the Australian Curriculum.
“I was really humbled; Geographe Primary is an amazing environment to work in.” Ms Nail said.
Ms Nail has also been involved in furthering teacher development through her online presence in the Department of Education’s Connect Communities, an online source where teachers can discuss certain topics, join learning area networks and share their teaching and learning resources.
Ms Nail said the wonderful learning environment at Geographe Primary allowed the teachers to engage students through ways city schools may not have access to.
Community school workshops have been utilised where the students are able to engage with a visual landscape, where they learn simultaneously about the visual arts and other practical concepts.
In particular, Ms Nail said herself and the school were involved in community workshops, combining Aboriginal culture, sustainability concepts and rehabilitation projects for native possums through a local bush site in their current work.
Ms Nail and the school also incorporate guest speakers into their classroom learning to engage students on a community level.
“Schools have to be interesting, supportive environments,” Ms Nail said,
“It’s about getting the balance right.”
Ms Nail said much of her work was based around creative and critical thinking, integrating enquiry learning into the process where problems were put to the students with different ways for them to find a solution.
The Education Awards recognise Western Australia’s best leaders, support staff, teachers and schools.
“The awards are a fantastic way for students, parents and school communities to celebrate the difference school staff make to the lives of children in this State,” Education Minister Peter Collier said.
Winners of the awards will be announced at a presentation breakfast at Crown Perth Monday, December 1.
