One top teacher

A CRANBOURNE principal who won a national award for her dedication and innovative teaching models says the recognition is the highlight of her career.
Courtenay Gardens Primary School founding principal Loretta Hamilton received a highly commended award at the 2009 Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence at Parliament House in Canberra recently.
Ms Hamilton said she thought of her late mother, who placed a huge emphasis on education, when Education Minister Julia Gillard presented her with her award.
Ms Hamilton said she came from a working class family and her mother held education in the highest regard.
“The one thing I could think of was my mother. It was such a great honour and a shame she could not see it,” Ms Hamilton said.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said Ms Hamilton was widely acknowledged for her vision of world-class teaching and learning.
“It’s a credit to her that the innovative models for teaching, learning and children’s writing she has developed in Cranbourne are now widely shared with schools across Victoria,” Mr Byrne said.
Ms Hamilton has been working in the education department for about 37 years and opened Courtenay Gardens Primary School.
Ms Hamilton said she did not realise how significant the occasion was until she arrived in Canberra.
“I didn’t realise how big it was. It was a bit of a shock, but a nice shock. I was rapt.”
An extract from Ms Hamilton’s citation for the awards ceremony noted that she developed exceptional multimedia and technology facilities and that the school had become a centre for innovation and excellence with world-class teaching and learning models under her leadership.