Challis Community Primary teacher named WA’s Beginning Teacher of the Year

“Footballers, because if they weren’t performing I could cut them,” he said, laughing.

The Challis Community Primary School Year 1 teacher and former Arsenal and Perth Glory coach was recognised at the WA Education Awards 2016.

Mr McClements was awarded a $25,000 prize for his efforts for introducing a UK program called Talking to Writing at the school, which resulted in 84 per cent of Year 3 students achieving above the national minimum standard in the 2015 NAPLAN test results.

MORE: Successful Challis Community Primary learning program getting national roll out

He had difficulty teaching his students creative writing in his first year and went searching for a program.

“I implemented it with my Year 1s, raved about it probably annoying my colleagues and then slowly we rolled it out across Years 1 to 3 and now it’s across the board for next year,” he said.

He credits principal Lee Musumeci and staff at Challis for their encouragement and an education strategy embracing evidence-based programs.

“We’re never allowed to sit on our laurels, we’re always driven to do better, the finish line is always shifting because once you’ve taught one group of students there’s the next.”

He said coaching had helped him keep on his toes with the changes in education.

“I’m naturally competitive, |always trying to be better; we’ve all had those teachers who have taught the same way for 40 years and the difference an enthusiastic, engaged teacher can make.”

Challis has a holistic and long-term approach to learning known as “womb to work” where students are not only taught in the classroom but have access to on-campus psychologists, programs for early learning and parenting services and can take advantage of the school’s tertiary relationships with Curtin University and Tafe. However Mr McClements said no services or teaching methods could replace a strong relationship.

“If we want to keep doing our best then yes, we want enthusiastic and engaged teachers. But more than that we need good relationships, between teacher and child.

“We’re asking the kids to do things they can’t do yet and that requires trust because without that, my job suddenly becomes really difficult,” he said.