Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea is welcoming the launch of a major new investment which will enable some of the best local public primary school teachers to mentor and coach other teachers, improving the results of students.
The $224 million Quality Teaching, Successful Students package begins this term and in the Davidson electorate will assist Belrose, Castle Cove, Frenchs Forest, Gordon East, Kambora, Mimosa, St Ives, St Ives Park and Wakehurst public schools.
Mr O’Dea said, “It is fantastic that these nine public schools in the Davidson electorate will benefit from this key election commitment.
“Improving the skills of our teachers will help students achieve better results.
“Expert educators have knowledge and skills that are even more valuable when they are shared with their colleagues,” Mr O’Dea said.
The program will enable selected teachers to:
- Mentor and coach other teachers;
- Observe teachers in their classrooms and demonstrate effective teaching strategies;
- Monitor student performance data across the school to ensure teachers are focused on areas of need; and
- Collaborate within their school and with colleagues in other schools.
A recent three-year study of 6,000 NSW public school teachers found that collaborating with colleagues was the most significant professional learning practice for primary teachers.
“This initiative, made possible by NSW signing up to the Gonski agreement, gives schools an opportunity they have been seeking for years – to use their best, most experienced teachers to improve teaching and learning in every classroom,” Mr Piccoli said.
“In line with the Local Schools, Local Decisions education reform, principals – who are best placed to make decisions about their schools – will determine how to use this new staffing resource.”
