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Lead Teacher

Carly Sopronick

Atherton State High School
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The introduction of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers will not only keep exceptional teachers in the classroom, it will also raise the quality of teaching, Carly Sopronick says.

The Master Teacher at Atherton State High School, who is a passionate advocate for engaging students in lifelong learning, has been certified as a Lead Teacher.

“As a sixth-year teacher, I regularly participate in projects and any opportunity that will improve my practice, The certification process provided me with an opportunity to gain recognition for that work, rather than wait years to have that same recognition for being experienced,” Carly says.

“The process is a fabulous opportunity for teachers to receive positive acknowledgement for the quality of their teaching, rather than the quantity of the years that they have been in the system,” she says.
​
“For the profession, it means an improvement in teacher quality as we concentrate on a more focussed alignment to the standards 
-- it is making teachers more aware of what it means to be a teacher in the 21st century.  Building my application provided so many opportunities to reflect on my practice.”

Carly's Tips:

  • Find a buddy - Find someone else who is going through the process to share the experience with. It isn't just the academic support, but being able to share the challenges, bounce ideas and gain reassurance. 
  • Positive recognition - Remember to give yourself a pat on the back for all the wonderful things that you are doing and don't just look at the deficits. 
  • Get on the page - We always tell students once they are on the page they have something to work with. Start writing; start writing early, start those annotations early. 
  • Currency - Focus on what you already do to meet the standards, rather than trying to create new artefacts or projects just to fill the gaps.  

​“The HAT/Lead certification process encourages teachers to stay in the classroom — in primary schools there are limited opportunities for teachers to become HODS and HOCS and this allows the recognition for those that lead across their schools. In a high school, there are more opportunities to lead through HOC and HOD roles, but many classroom teachers lead processes and teams in their departments and across the school, and this certification acknowledges this work.”

She says the application process also highlights the need for teachers to work more collaboratively, instead of working in isolation, as the standards focus significantly on working in teams both within the school context but also externally.

Currently, as a Master Teacher she has a Year 9 English class, but has taught across all year levels in English as well as in a multitude of curriculum areas through team-teaching. She’s also the co-founder and co-coordinator of the regional Cluster Collaboration Network, alongside Tracey Peden, a fellow Lead Teacher.

The collegial network has existed for two years and provides opportunities for teachers across both primary and secondary sectors to share pedagogical practices and build relationships.

“I love working in education, being able to engage students in learning is really rewarding.  I have four teenage daughters and can see the impact teachers have on their ways of thinking about the world.  I am also really passionate about working with adult learners 
-- teachers embody that whole concept of a lifelong learner — that desire to learn new ways of teaching and learning never stops,” Carly says.
​
Queensland College of Teachers
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​Toowong Qld 4066
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  • Home
    • TEACHX AWARDS >
      • Beginning to Teach Award Nominees 2019
      • 2019 TEACHX Winners
      • 2019 TEACHX Finalists
      • 2019 TEACHX Nominees >
        • OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY AWARD NOMINEES 2019
        • Excellence in Teaching Award Nominees 2019
        • Innovation in Teaching Award Nominees 2019
        • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award Nominees 2019
        • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award Nominees 2019
  • Teacher Stories
    • Teaching graduates meet tough standards
    • Rachel Downie
    • The importance of teachers
    • Marsden State High School has the answer to keeping beginning teachers in the classroom
    • Exceptional support for early career teachers in Far North Queensland
    • QBECT
    • 2018 Awards >
      • 2018 Winners
      • 2018 Finalists
      • 2018 Nominees >
        • Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award
        • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award
        • Excellence in Teaching Award
        • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award
        • Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award
    • 2017 Awards >
      • 2017 Winners
      • 2017finalists
      • 2017 nominees >
        • Excellence in Beginning to Teach
        • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning
        • Excellence in Teaching
        • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
    • 2016 Awards >
      • Excellence in Beginning to Teach
      • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning
      • Excellence in Teaching
      • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
    • HAT and LT >
      • Meet the Assessors
      • Ruth Graham
      • Tracey Peden
      • Helen and Dwayne
      • Carly Sopronick
      • Jessica Roberts
      • Jessica Roth
    • OAM >
      • Kathryn George, OAM
      • Keith Graham, OAM
      • Dr Judith Grimes, OAM
      • Michael Goodwin, OAM
      • Steve Parle, OAM
      • Dr Lyn Bishop, OAM
      • Dr Catherine Day, OAM
    • Taryn Gollshewsky
    • Vanuatu
    • NAIDOC >
      • NAIDOC Week 2017
      • NAIDOC Week 2016
    • QLD Day >
      • Bundaberg East State School
      • St Catherine's Catholic College
      • Mornington Island State School
      • Queensland Week 2016
    • ANZAC
  • Claire Cummins
  • Anxiety and trauma―an expert’s advice