Celebrating Excellence: Congratulations to Our Newly Recognised Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers!

The AISSA is thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to a remarkable group of educators from the Independent school sector who achieved Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher status.

At a ceremony held at Adelaide Oval on Friday 20 September, Danielle Keynes from Immanuel College, Su-Sim Lynch and Jacinta Wild from Westminster School were recognised as newly certified Highly Accomplished Teachers, while Sasha Loveday from Trinity College graduated with Lead Teacher certification. Alison Barr and Anna Partridge from Westminster School also renewed their Highly Accomplished Teacher status for another 5 years. These teachers were amongst others from across South Australia’s schools.

“As the peak body for Independent schools in South Australia, we are deeply invested in the professional growth and success of our educators,” said Mrs Anne Dunstan, Chief Executive of the AISSA.

“National Teacher Certification recognises and affirms exemplary teachers and enables our best teachers to lead from the classroom. This has real impact on the outcomes for students, whilst also building an impactful learning and teaching culture within a school.”

Certification as a Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher is recognised nationally. It is one of the only nationally accredited processes that speaks to a teacher’s impact and success in the classroom. The governing framework, which ensures the nationally consistent approach, is led by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

“This is a deeply involved and rigorous process,” said Mrs Dunstan. “I extend my very best wishes and congratulations to those graduating from the Independent sector, and all teachers from across other sectors.”

In achieving their status, each of the graduates underwent a meticulous process to demonstrate the quality of their teaching, and their positive impact on student learning and supporting their peers. The process, which can take up to 18 months, requires teachers to provide evidence of their success in accordance with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Their evidence is critically reviewed, and independently observed and verified before being finally endorsed by the SA Teachers Certification Committee, which is governed by South Australia’s three education sectors.

Friday’s graduation event was attended by Ms Erin Thompson MP, Member for Devonport, representing Minister for Education Blair Boyer. Mr Danny Pinchas, General Manager, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, and Heads and representatives from across each of South Australia’s educational sectors. The event was a wonderful celebration and opportunity to bring South Australia’s best teachers together to acknowledge and celebrate their achievement.

Through our support of the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher program, the AISSA aims to help achieve the national goals for schooling expressed in the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration on educational goals for all Australians.

Congratulations, once again, to all graduates.