From transforming her school culture to spending her holidays working on classroom design, to ensuring a visually impaired student has equal access to learning both inside and outside the classroom, Christie Thackray has made an enormous difference to students and colleagues at her school.

The Redlynch State College early career teacher, who has already delivered a conference paper on the engagement of reluctant writers, introduced her school to the concept of the growth mindset.

The concept is now one of the school’s priorities, and Christie is being described as one of the most innovative and inspirational beginning teachers that colleagues have seen.
Her exceptional professionalism includes an extraordinary commitment to students. 
When Christie became aware that one of her students had low vision, she consulted outside health providers to ensure the student had the latest and most suitable technology available for their learning.

The student used One Note to see the whole class board. In outside activities Christie has students wear high-vis vests so that the visually impaired student is able to join in with their peers during outside activities. 

Christie “spent her entire Christmas holidays” putting in place a classroom design – painting and making furniture and reorganising seating – to reflect a flexible seating arrangement she had researched in order to increase student engagement. 

The Year 6 teacher has also been involved in a college-wide writing project that was implemented to build capacity in students.

Redlynch State College executive principal Tony Fuller says Christie is always pushing herself to keep across the latest research “and has influenced the college in key strategic initiatives such as growth mindset, flexible learning spaces and motivating boys to write”. 
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Congratulations Christie on your QCT Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award nomination.