National prize for academic's support for future teachers

University of Sydney senior lecturer, Dr Jen Scott Curwood, has been nationally recognised for her leadership work with teachers.

Dr Curwood was awarded the Teacher Educator of the Year Award from Teachers Mutual Bank (TMB), in partnership with the Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA), at the 2016 ATEA National Conference held in Ballarat.

“I am honoured to receive this recognition from teacher educators,” said Dr Curwood.

“Teachers are a source of rich and diverse leadership in our communities. I have a strong belief that teacher educators can cultivate and encourage this leadership and help shape educational policy and practice, both as teachers and researchers.

"My students have gone on to share their scholarship at conferences and in leading educational journals. I am excited about continuing this work with pre-service English teachers, as they build and share knowledge about our profession.”

Dr Curwood has integrated programs into the university’s teaching courses that develop leadership skills and build an understanding of the profession’s contributions to the community.

She has also established a partnership with Compass, which gives pre-service teachers an opportunity to build their skills and confidence as English educators, by working with students in western and southwestern Sydney. 

 “This year the Teacher Educator of the Year Award recognises and rewards Dr Curwood’s training program which focuses on building the leadership skills and confidence of future teachers so they can successfully enter the education workforce,” said Brad Hedgman, Deputy CEO at TMB.

Applications for next year’s award will open in February 2017.