Amanda Johnson from the Home Economics Institute of Australia SA (HEIA SA) is this year’s recipient of the TRB Induction & Mentoring Award presented as part of the Educators SA 2020 World Teachers Day Awards. The awards went ahead despite Educators SA being unable to hold a ceremony with their Executive Director, Rod Nancarrow personally contacting each winner. A full list of the winners was also printed in The Advertiser on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October.

Amanda completed her initial teacher training in 1989 at the University of SA, followed by post-graduate studies in Business in 1991. After working in management roles in retail and time at home tending to her family, Amanda commenced her teaching career at Annesley College in 2004 where she worked as a playgroup coordinator, an EAL teacher and a home economics teacher.

Amanda recalls how she found out about HEIA in 2006. “A fellow teacher Gill Joschke introduced me to HEIA and together we began hosting meetings and training days for the Institute.”

“Today I am a Committee of Management member supporting the Chair, Sarah Hockey and I work to mentor both rural and metropolitan teachers. I also facilitate the running of the HEIA Southern Metro Hub Group which currently has 34 active members.”

In 2010, Amanda joined Scotch College and in her current role as Head of Technology and Visual Art teaches Food Technology and Food and Hospitality, and is a Year 12 mentor.

“The best part of working with a teacher association is sharing curriculum ideas and experiences with others. I get to learn from my mentors, mentor others and network with interstate peers,” Amanda said.

In 2019 Amanda won the HEIA Award of Excellence which is peer-nominated.

A full list of the 2020 winners can be viewed on the Educators SA website here.