Garry Poole

DET Regional Music Coordinator for Darling Downs South West

Garry Poole is a virtuoso in the management of the instrumental music program across the whole of the Darling Downs South West Region.  

Prior to entering the teaching profession, he established himself as a full-time musician, conductor and performer. 

His desire is to engage with students and provide quality music education, skill development and performance opportunities that will ultimately enrich their lives. 

In his role as Regional Music Coordinator, he has enhanced overall regional standards in the quality of instrumental music teaching and educational outcomes in schools through the design, development, refinement and implementation of resources and programs.

To this end Garry has developed and orchestrated a unique collaborative moderation instrument. 

All teachers across the region use this system as they cross-reference and mark work on a regional level.  

This has resulted in a standardised and consistent way of marking and grading instrumental music students to meet the expectations of the curriculum.    

Additionally, he has developed other resources which are utilised across the region including an interactive template excel Student Profile spreadsheet system for record keeping and reporting purposes. 

Use of these tools not only provides evidence and justification for end of term and semester results, but also demonstrates teacher accountability.   

​Staff cooperation, input, and a shared unified vision through implementation of these tools and resources has led to improved student outcomes and teacher reporting.

DDSW DET AMEB Trial Gains National Significance
In an Australian first, instrumental music students in Darling Downs South West region schools have undertaken Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) practical exams as part of their school curriculum in a DET AMEB Trial.

Garry’s idea to engage students in music through the AMEB syllabus and exams has led to a phenomenally successful program that is soon to be rolled out to state schools across Queensland.

The DET AMEB Trial program enables students living in regional and remote areas to gain nationally recognized AMEB qualifications while satisfying the requirements of the DET curriculum within their school-based music program.

Just some of the benefits of this program include students having extra incentive to practice in order to achieve their qualification; students experiencing an increased social awareness and acceptance across year levels as they perform with other likeminded students in accordance with acquired skills and ability; while teachers on the other hand gain further satisfaction from their students improved skills and success.
 
Word of the Trial’s success has seen Garry invited to present on the subject at a national meeting of AMEB State Managers in Melbourne during the September school holidays. 

This is with a view for a possible roll out of the program in other regional and remote areas across Australia.
 
Garry is so passionate about the importance of this trial and its benefits for students in regional and remote areas, that he is currently undertaking a Level 10 professional research study on the DET AMEB Trial to produce a best practice school based implementation model incorporating group lesson methodology to aid teachers in this endeavour.
 
In conclusion, Garry proudly acknowledges the excellent work being done by DDSW instrumental music teachers, as it is because of their dedication, their commitment, their persistence and unified approach to providing quality teaching practice in the classroom, that student outcomes and opportunities continue to improve.

Congratulations Garry on your nomination