Head of English Department at Casey Grammar School Louise Piva has earned a place on this year’s Educator Hot List – an annual honour recognising the country’s most dedicated and innovative teachers.
Louise is one of the 14 teachers from Victoria who made the cut in 2023.
“I feel very humbled and definitely a little overwhelmed. It was certainly a shock as I had no idea I’d been nominated,” Ms Piva said.
“I became a teacher because I believe education and teachers can make a real difference to young people and to the future they can create for themselves and others. That is why, 30 years later, I am still a teacher.
“I see students in my class succeed where they thought they couldn’t and that is why I’m passionate about this job. All students are capable of learning and I am committed to making sure that is the case in my class.”
Since arriving at Casey Grammar School, Ms Piva has brought a series of enhancements to the school, including introducing technology to improve collaboration, communication, assessment and curriculum management across all year levels and units.
She created activities to build independent reading and established the SmartLab online literacy program that monitors and diagnoses language and literacy challenges, and finds opportunities to extend highly capable students.
Ms Piva and her team have also organised voluntary Year 12 workshops to give students extra assistance with the exams.
With her support and encouragement, one Casey Grammar student who began their education in a special school will be studying creative writing at university next year.
Outside of work, Ms Piva is completing a PhD degree which focuses on inclusive education and consultation.
The Educator Hot List acknowledges outstanding teachers who have had significant influence in classrooms, schools and the broader world of education.
Schools nominate hundreds of teachers whom they feel have made a real difference in their students’ lives and a panel of judges chooses those who make the hot list.
Ms Piva has earned her place on the national list and she is as passionate about teaching today as she was when she first began her career 30 years ago.
“It’s a cliché, but every day is different with year level Team meetings, teaching classes, creating the curriculum and marking to do. I have an open-door policy for staff and students so, at any point during the day, I will be working with others on challenges or new ideas,” Ms Piva said.
“There is also yard duty which I like! I get to interact with students that I teach and those that I don’t, and I love it when students come up to me in the yard for a chat. That makes my day.”
