By CASEY NEILL
GREATER Dandenong schools shone at this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards, announced on 17 May.
Dandenong North Primary School won the School Leadership Team of the Year prize and Chandler Park Primary School’s Mary Hannett was named the Business Manager of the Year.
Dandenong North principal Kevin Mackay said he had a large leadership team at 13 people, but had a large staff base to draw from – 84 full and part-time staff.
“You can’t make people be leaders,” he said.
Mr Mackay said any teacher could put their hand up to lead and have the opportunity to learn the skills required.
“We’re approaching world’s best practice in terms of teaching,” he said.
The win included $25,000 in grants, which will go toward a project about peer observation and coaching. Mr Mackay said the school was looking to share its skills with other schools.
“We’ve got really high-quality staff. They work really hard and in a direct way with focused skills,”
“To have a team around like that says a lot about the school and about the team.”
Ms Hannett has been Chandler Park’s business manager for 13 years and provides development opportunities for the education support team.
Her $10,000 prize means she can pay for professional speakers to present to the group.
“Instead of red wine and a big thank you,” she laughed.
The former school parent lives just around the corner from the school and was “gobsmacked and delighted” to win the award – but didn’t like all the fuss.
“If the principal nominates me again next year, I’m going to kill him,” she laughed.
Principal Peter Paul said the award was good for staff morale.
“Most schools would love a business manager of Mary’s calibre,” he said.
Lyndale Greens Primary School’s Victoria Golding was a finalist for Primary Principal of the Year.
Springs Park Primary School’s Tracie Schwarz was a finalist for Primary Teacher of the Year, and Jodie McCarthy from Carwatha College P-12 was among the final contenders for the Outstanding Youth Pathways and Transitions award.
Teaching Profession Minister Peter Hall said the awards highlighted the creativity and innovation.
