Joanne Rothwell’s Brightwater State School students describe her as ‘caring’, ‘encouraging’, ‘always there for us’, ‘kind and stuff’, ‘fun’ and enjoy the effort she takes to ensure each day is more memorable than the last.
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To be a source of inspiration for her Year Two students and peers, Joanne engages in inquiry-based philosophy in her classroom that has real-world relevance to her students.  Imagined experiences with inquiry include a meeting with the Queen during the recent royal wedding and helping the gingerbread man cross the river without getting his biscuit legs soggy.  

Beginning her career in the UK, Joanne has over seventeen years of experience. Joanne’s love of teaching shines through and she ensures every opportunity for incidental learning is utilised.  She is highly skilled at igniting students’ own sense of wonder.

“No two days in Joanne’s class are the same as she is committed to developing contemporary learning practices that instil a love of learning for those within her classroom, and a model of exemplary practice for those looking on around her,” principal Robyn Taplin said.

Joanne inspires her colleagues and while developing herself, naturally develops others around her. 
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As a Curriculum Team Leader, Joanne champions differentiation and leads the development of personalised learning practices that put faces to the data and ensures each student, as an individual, is working towards their own challenging learning goals. She encourages students to become ‘risk takers’ and self-reflective to evaluate their own learning journey.

Joanne supports the school to design units of work that model best practice and provide a sequence of learning that culminates in quality assessment. She is also an early adopter of the school’s International Baccalaureate trial.

Scaffolding is a valued practice in Joanne’s classroom where students are able to ‘fish bowl’ to unpack a new concept or activity and she provides ample time for each student to achieve the lesson goal.  She believes empowering a student to see themselves as a learner is fundamental to her role and given enough time every student can learn.

Her professionalism in all interactions with stakeholders never waivers and her support for the needs of those around her is warmly felt. She ensures families play an integral role in their children’s learning and creates an open-door policy for her classroom where students, parents and peers, feel safe, supported and valued.

“Joanne wears many hats each day and can often be seen effortlessly juggling birthday cupcakes, a quick check-in with a parent, a last-minute question from a team member and 25 students eagerly waiting at the door to begin their learning for the day,” Robyn said.

Joanne’s influence has been instrumental in creating and sustaining a culture where positive learning outcomes are at the heart of all teaching at Brightwater State School.
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Congratulations Joanne on your Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Teaching Award nomination.

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