The Specialist Setting Teachers team from Maryborough Education Centre are celebrating their recent Victorian Education Excellence Award – announced by the Minister for Education just over a week ago.
Check out the schools acceptance speech after receiving their award: MEC Excellence Awards 2016
Located in a rural town of around 7,500 people, this exciting program for students with special needs has been developed utilising an integrated approach to learning provision – one of two education settings that include a Specialist Learning environment within a “mainstream” education setting.
Both the staff and students are an integral part of the Maryborough Education Centre – a Foundation to Year 12 education setting.
The Victorian Education Excellence Awards recognise outstanding leadership and innovation in Victorian government schools. The Honourable James Merlino MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, recognised a number of outstanding education leaders and leadership teams at the Awards held at the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre recently.
Julie Reager, the Assistant Principal at Maryboruogh Education Centre said:
‘We believe, without question, that all students can learn and it is the right for all students, disability or not, to access quality teaching in every lesson, every day. The Specialist Setting staff proudly embrace initiatives to suit a special education environment. We develop strategies to suit every student, whether they have their classes in the mainstream or special education area of the school, through their own individual education plan.
Our goal is to reduce the perception of ‘difference’ in our school and wider community. By promoting diversity we recognise the value of all people and consequently become richer as a society.’
Integrating mainstream and supported classes on one site, along with the school’s exceptional team of teacher assistants is providing a boost to learning and social outcomes that are far exceeding initial expectations.
The team describes an ‘unexpected magic’ between its mainstream and special students, with positive outcomes for both anticipated well into the future. The teacher assistants provide support and mentoring to their colleagues, students and families alike – easing the way for students of all abilities to achieve in academic, interpersonal and social arenas. The proud team has watched a number of students transition entirely into mainstream classes, while others move seamlessly in and out of areas based on their needs.’
The acknowledgement of such a great education program within our rural communities is fantastic to see, and all at Maryborough Education Centre need to be congratulated for the inspiring and outstanding education program.
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