Illawarra and South Coast well represented in 2024 Public Education Awards

Warilla High School HSIE teacher Ryan McGillivray is one of nine recipients from the Illawarra and South Coast in the 2024 Public Education Awards, which celebrate the best in public schooling.

The awards recognised individual achievements, breakthrough school initiatives, community partnerships and major contributions to school communities.

Warilla High picked up two awards with Ryan receiving the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the school awarded the Secretary’s Award for an Outstanding School Initiative for its Science HSC Success.

Oak Flats High principal Angela Byron took out the Secretary’s Award for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and Windang Public School won the Secretary’s Award for School Achievement for its Knowledge Rich Curriculum.

On the South Coast, Ulladulla High took out a staggering five awards – two Year 12 students, Ellie Fitzpatrick and Charlotte Carter, were awarded a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement, two staff members, Karyn Ingold and Leanne Colley, received a Secretary’s Award for Excellent Service and the school’s 4Seas Future Focussed UHS Learning Culture program was commended with a Secretary’s Award for School Achievement.

Ryan, who has worked at Warilla High since leaving university, admitted he was a little overwhelmed by his award for his passion and expertise in fostering student success and mentoring colleagues in high potential and gifted education.

“Other teachers at Warilla High School have won the Minister’s Award in the past, and I hold their teaching practice in the absolute highest of regard,” Ryan said.

“I know the other incredible work that happens at Warilla High School every day with other teachers, and I knew an award like this was available, but I never really considered I’d be even nominated. Then to further win, I was overwhelmed.”

Ryan won the award as a leader of the Stage 4 Core Academic Program, or CAP.

“CAP is there to meet the needs of our high potential and gifted education students in stage four and I oversee that program,” he said.

“The goal of the program is to support the high achieving students in the classroom and meeting what they can possibly achieve, but also to establish future career paths and learn future learning goals for the students.

“It’s also trying to really support families as well, because we find if you have that support at home, the students are even more likely to succeed.”

He said the program saw him create professional development for teachers to upskill in teaching high potential and gifted students, support parents, and organise extracurricular activities and links with the community for students.

“Later in the year, our CAP math students will be going to the University of Wollongong for a working mathematician workshop where they work with university students to solve complex maths problems,” he said.

Ryan said parents also received a weekly report on how their child was going and were part of a study skills initiative to understand effective study at home.

As the second teacher to lead the CAP program, he said over the years the program had achieved great results.

“We find our CAP students are consistently high achievers as they transition through high school,” he said.

“We had quite significant HSC success last year, and many of the students who did achieve that HSC success did come through our CAP program.

“Developing the skills early and developing the learning early has supported them all the way through their schooling.”

Ryan said while the award was predominantly for that work, he also oversaw programs in the school’s HSIE faculty and provided close links with the University of Wollongong through a literacy partnership.

He also praised the science department for its award.

“The amount of work they put into their HSC Success Program – the science study skills – is amazing,” he said.

“We do see the impact that it has and how positive it is for the students.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said she was excited to celebrate the initiatives, achievements and people during what was also Public Education Week with the theme ‘Proud to belong’.

“The Public Education Awards are an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing work of our teachers, school communities and other staff who each day work together to bring out the best in our students,” Minister Car said.

“This annual celebration also recognises the academic, cultural, sporting and leadership excellence of our students, as we share in their personal stories and performances.”

Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said as a former student, teacher and principal and now parent in the public system, he was proud of public education in NSW.

“Through these awards we honour the best of the best in our system and showcase the incredible work of our schools, support staff and parents in giving our students an incredible platform on which to soar,” Mr Drizdar said.