SACRED Heart College teacher Renae Oliver has been recognised for excellence in classroom teaching and university studies at Curtin University’s 2009 School of Education annual awards.
Ms Oliver received the Australian College of Educators (WA Chapter) Award after completing her Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education.
Presented to former students, the awards recognise the outstanding achievements of new graduates and celebrate excellence in teaching and teachers’ transition into the classroom.
Ms Oliver said it was while she was completing her first degree in aquaculture that she decided to pursue teaching.
“Through my aquaculture degree I realised I had a knack for explaining things and that teaching was for me,” she said.
Her enthusiasm and dedication, demonstrated by the excellent grades she achieved during a one-year Dip Ed at Curtin last year, are the qualities that earned her a placement at Sacred Heart College before she had completed her final practicum.
Ms Oliver was the top Dip Ed student last year, achieving 98 per cent in her major, biological science, and 97 per cent in her minor, business studies.
She said was enjoying the challenge of teaching Year 8, 9 and 11 science and maths.
“It’s really rewarding, I really enjoying teaching, especially when it’s a complicated subject and the kids finally understand it,” she said.
Later this term, Ms Oliver will put her aquaculture degree to use, teaching an integrated science aquaculture class.