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.
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.