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Picture






Claire Spruce

Cavendish Road State High School

Student results have improved and behaviour incidents are substantially down under an inspiring Cavendish Road State High School teacher.

Some at risk students are achieving Bs on a History exam for the first time as a result of Claire Spruce’s efforts, while gifted and talented students are also being academically stretched due to the approach used by the English and Humanities teacher.

Claire has been nominated for a Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award.

Cavendish Road State High School principal Corrine McMillan says Claire epitomizes all that is encouraged and expected of beginning teachers.

“Ms Spruce inspires all with whom she comes in contact and ensures high expectations for her colleague staff and students,” Corrine says.

Claire’s outstanding support for students who are at risk of disengaging, and her development of positive behaviour management strategies, have seen a dramatic reduction in behaviour and referral numbers and an increase in marks.

She has helped identify gifted and talented students and worked with them on activities, such as excavating headstones that have been buried for nearly 100 years.

After parents raised concerns about students’ stress levels she found Year 7 students were completing 18 pieces of assessment a semester across all of their subjects and she worked on reducing the amount of assessment while making some items richer.

That also resulted in an increased number of As in History and English.

She has organised the use of real artefacts, several over 100,000 years old, for the first Year 7 History unit, so as to engage students from the beginning of their first high school year, while senior students are using ICT quizzes to increase engagement in lessons.

“Ms Spruce enjoys invaluable relationships with all members of our school community and is well respected by all students,” Corrine says.

Congratulations Claire on your nomination.
Queensland College of Teachers
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​Toowong Qld 4066
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  • Home
  • TEACHX AWARDS
    • 2019 TEACHX Winners
    • 2019 TEACHX Finalists
    • 2019 TEACHX Nominees >
      • Beginning to Teach Award Nominees 2019
      • 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
  • Anxiety and trauma―an expert’s advice