Almost 51 years ago, on the 16th of November 1973, the Board met for the very first time for one special purpose - to ensure that teaching was held in the highest esteem as a profession. We celebrated the 50th anniversary last year and began a new tradition of celebrating through awards that recognise a graduate teacher and a long-standing teacher.

Many representatives from across the education sectors gathered at our recent awards ceremony held at The Adelaide Town Hall where we were thrilled to recognise two amazing teachers. Firstly, an early career teacher who has overcome a challenge to complete their studies and become a graduate teacher. Also, a teacher with longer teaching experience who has reflected on their many years of practice and how they have supported their learners and engaged as a teacher over their workspan.

Early Career Teacher Award winner

Congratulations to Tai Yang for being awarded the Minister’s Graduate Achievement prize.

Tai Yang is an international student and moved to Australia with limited experience of Australian schools, education processes and the values held by our state education system. She was proactive in developing her understanding and adapting her craft to ensure she achieved the outcomes expected of professional teaching practices in South Australia. 

Tai has demonstrated collegiality, diplomacy and maturity in the face of challenging professional experiences and successfully navigated her final teaching placement with a mentor teacher who challenged her values and philosophy of teaching.

Following the experience, Tai shared her insights with her peers by leading workshops to provide support and advice to other pre-service teachers, to prepare them for any challenges that they may face when on a teaching placement. Tai is a highly successful student with an outstanding GPA. Tai was nominated by Rachael Hedger, lecturer of Flinders University.

Minister’s Graduate Achievement Prize recipient, Tai Yang, with Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Blair Boyer MP.

Teachers Registration Board Service Award Recipient

Congratulations to Cassandra Neller for being recognised as the 2024 Teachers Registration Board Service Award recipient.

Cassandra’s line manager and nominator for the award, David Price, (Deputy Principal, Urrbrae Agricultural High School), expressed that he found all aspects of her professional work exemplary. He described Cass as a collaborative, collegiate, adaptable and resilient educator, who has successfully developed effective and positive relationships with students, colleagues, parents/caregivers and members of the wider community.

Cass is viewed as a fabulous role model for the schools’ female students and has been selected to train to become a technical studies teacher. She currently teaches English, Humanities and a year 11 SACE subject, concerned with native animals and food production. Her previous experiences include teaching at schools on the APY Lands, in metropolitan and country schools, in both primary and secondary settings. This year Cass established and co-ordinated literacy intervention opportunities for students requiring extra support.

In the past Cass has contributed to professional learning of other teachers through her presentations of literacy programs, such as Accelerated Literacy and Fresh Start.  The implementation of these programs into several remote and country schools resulted in the establishment of targeted and differentiated student learning support, which increased student attendance and engagement with their learning.

Her remarkable career and dedication to her students and the broader community have truly set her apart as an outstanding educator, and her commitment to excellence and promotion of learner engagement is remarkable.

Teachers Registration Board Service Award Recipient, Cassandra Neller, with Board Presiding member, Carolyn Grantskalns.

The night was a wonderful opportunity to come together in celebration of the profession. The Board continues to reflect on our teachers’ achievements, and we show gratitude for all of the hard work and devotion that has been undertaken by those trailblazer teachers and reformers before us.