Flinders Primary School teacher awarded 2023 National Excellence in Teaching Award from thousands of nominees
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Matthew Flinders Anglican College Primary School teacher Amy Cahill is one of only 13 winners in the 2023 National Excellence in Teaching Awards
Matthew Flinders Anglican College Primary School teacher Amy Cahill has received one of only 13 2023 National Excellence in Teaching Awards and was the only educator in Queensland to win the prestigious NEiTA Apple Award and a $5,000 professional development grant from the NEiTA Foundation.
The NEiTA Foundation recognises teachers and leaders who represent excellence and help to advance education at local, regional or national levels.
This year the foundation received over 2,500 nominations and conducted over 50 video interviews to reach its 2023 final shortlist.
“Amy was nominated a teacher of unequal commitment, not only to the students in her care, but to the provision of extensive co-curricular opportunities for students P-12, particularly in Dance and Musical Theatre,” NEiTA noted during its awarding of Miss Cahill.
“Her passion for creative arts drives her to provide rich opportunities for students in this pursuit.”
Miss Cahill was thrilled to receive a NEiTA Award and found her role as an educator to be “incredibly rewarding”.
“Children possess an innate sense of joy, curiosity and creativity that can teach us, as adults, to appreciate the small wonders of life,” Miss Cahill said.
“As an educator, I wholeheartedly encourage and support my students to embrace their curiosity, ask questions and find joy in learning.
“I strive to infuse creativity into the content I teach, fostering a lifelong love for learning, and to ensure that every student experiences a sense of belonging and empowerment – both in the classroom and beyond through co-curricular experiences.
“Knowing that I am shaping the future by educating and preparing the next generation of leaders, professionals and innovators gives me a profound sense of purpose. I love my job!”
Flinders Head of Primary Trudi Edwards said Miss Cahill’s award win was an outstanding achievement for her as an educator and another proud endorsement for the College.
“Miss Amy Cahill has been recognised for her commitment to quality teaching and her active and passionate involvement in our co-curricular program at Flinders,” Mrs Edwards said.
“At Flinders, we pride ourselves on offering our staff diverse and valuable opportunities to professionally develop and explore their talents, so we are thrilled to see Amy recognised for her commitment.
“In 2023, Miss Cahill embraced many opportunities to grow her professional skills and to support our students through innovative learning experiences and programs.
“For example, Amy guided our Year 5 students through our bespoke Flinders Mathematics Mastery Classes to help them develop a deep conceptual understanding of Mathematics.
“Amy also stepped into one of the main roles to facilitate our three-day Flinders Design for Impact Summit design thinking immersion experience, which challenged our Year 5 students to create a more sustainable, healthy and inclusive community as a vision for the Sunshine Coast in 2050.
“On the co-curricular front, Amy managed our Primary School’s Touch Football Program, mentored our creative arts students through musical productions and on a tour to the United Kingdom and led our nationally-ranked Secondary Dance Team, drawing on her expertise as a qualified dancer and dance teacher.
“We are fortunate to have Amy as part of our dedicated Primary School staff team.”
The Flinders Primary School was also recently named the Australian Primary School of the Year (Non-Government) in the 2023 Educator Awards.
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