Victoria's Faculty of Education held the inaugural Teacher Education Excellence Awards on 17 May, acknowledging graduating students who excelled in their academic studies and performed strongly while on practicum experience in 2010.

Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Dugald Scott, paid tribute to the outstanding achievement of the recipients.

"Determining teacher quality is not an easy matter, but most studies agree on the kinds of characteristics that are vital to student learning. These include the ability to convey ideas in clear and convincing ways; the ability to create effective learning environments for different types of students; the ability to foster productive teacher-student relationships; enthusiasm and creativity; and an ability and willingness to work effectively with colleagues and parents,” said Professor Scott.

“It is these kinds of abilities that our courses help students acquire and grow, and this evening is a chance to congratulate those who have demonstrated high levels of those abilities.”

Three other Teacher Education awards were also presented, including the Ilse B. Steinberger Prize in Primary Teaching.

Erica Steinberger McLean established the award in honour of her mother, Ilse B. Steinberger, a teacher who dedicated her life to teaching and education in the United States. Mrs Steinberger McLean was in Wellington to present the award to this year’s recipient, Rosemary Driver.

Mrs Steinberger McLean praised the quality of teacher education programmes at Victoria. She was delighted to be able to present the award to Ms Driver, who is now teaching in a Nelson Primary School, and commented that Ms Driver’s belief that teaching is a “get out what you put in” kind of profession would have resonated with her mother.

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