Nicole Crosthwaite from St Anthony’s School was named as one of eight WA candidates vying for the ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards, which will be held in Melbourne next year.
“The award is to recognise teachers for their excellence and their contributions to their teaching,” Mrs Crosthwaite, a Year 1 teacher, said.
“I was extremely proud and honoured to be nominated and didn’t think that I would make it as far as I have.
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READ NOW“From the 1100 people nominated, I have made it into the top 36.”
She said she would now complete a short written assessment and a video interview presentation.
“The top 12 are chosen to fly to Melbourne for the final awards ceremony,” she said.
Mrs Crosthwaite’s career began in 1993 at Kalgoorlie’s St Mary’s Primary School, where she stayed for nine years teaching pre-primary, years 2 and 4 and physical education.
She has also taught at Good Shepherd in Kelmscott, Our Lady’s Assumption in Dianella and St Michael’s in Bassendean.
She started at St Anthony’s in 2012 and ran the three-year-old program and did support in years 1 and 3.
“I went full-time in 2013 and taught pre-primary,” she said.
“In 2014 I began teaching Year 1 in an open doors collaborative setting.”
She said she had known from a young age that she wanted to teach.
“Teaching is an evolving career, forever changing,” she said.
“I enjoy the challenges that teaching brings; new curriculums, strategies and children with different personalities and learning abilities.
“The children are the main reason I teach.
“I thrive on exposing them to new things and information, to help make changes to their world and likewise how their personalities and stories make changes and touch my world too.”
She said she enjoyed learning and working with the children, encouraging them so that they achieved success and felt confident within themselves.
“There is no better reward as a teacher to have smiling, happy children who enjoy their learning and want to do their best,” she said.
Principal Mark Marando congratulated Mrs Crosthwaite on her achievement.
Also read: Teachers win awards.