Jill Green

Fitzgerald State School

One of Mackay’s key music leaders is a finalist in state teaching awards for her outstanding contribution to students across the region over the past three decades.
Described as a musical and performing arts “powerhouse”, the inspirational Jill Green has led Fitzgerald State School students to district, regional, state and national wins in dance and choral competitions.

Over the past decade, Ms Green has been the District Instrumental Coordinator and the District Curriculum Music Coordinator.

Since 2013 she has been Coordinator of the District Big Sing Choral Workshops and Chair of Mackay’s Instrumental Music Local Area Management Group since 2014. In these roles, Ms Green has organised Instrumental and Choral camps and many Professional Development opportunities for her colleagues. 

Ms Green has also been the President of the Mackay Chapter of the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia for the past 21 years and in 2013 was named the Most Accomplished Primary Choral Conductor at the Mackay Eisteddfod.

But it’s the extraordinary difference that she has made to generations of students over 35 years that is behind her being named a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award. 

Jill with three of her students, the head judge and compere at the 2017 Wakakirri red carpet event.

Ms Green will be flown to Brisbane to attend the statewide awards ceremony on 27 October, when Queensland celebrates World Teachers’ Day.

For the past 30 years Ms Green has taught at Fitzgerald State School where she has directed an annual ‘Arts Spectacular’ and provided students with extra-curricular Arts opportunities through a recorder ensemble, three choirs, a drama club and the Wakakirri story dance troupe. 

Every year she not only directs a musical production, she also writes the script and the music score. Ms Green also works with teachers to infuse drama and music into the curriculum. She said colonial history was one subject area where this worked really well. 

“It gives students an extra level of understanding when they talk about the emotions the convicts might have been going through ... it takes their understanding to another level and that’s why the Arts is so important to incorporate and engage students across the year levels; it deepens and enriches the learning,” Ms Green said.

She said seeing students engage in her classroom, perform and gain confidence sustained her as a teacher. 

​“Seeing the student’s joy when they perform on stage and gain so much confidence and seeing their journey right through to the end – I love that, that’s why I teach, that’s my passion – seeing that happen.” 

Congratulations Jill on being a finalist.