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2018 Excellence in Teaching Award finalist

Melanie Ralph

Indooroopilly State High School
Brisbane high-school students are learning about human rights and discrimination from a survivor of the Holocaust, thanks to their teacher Melanie Ralph.

In just three years, Miss Ralph has connected Indooroopilly State High School students with groups and individuals from all walks of life to enrich their learning.

Inspired by her experience of teaching in a Jewish community in Vancouver, Canada, Miss Ralph contacted a local rabbi who put her in touch with living historians who were invited to teach students about the value of empathy and standing up against prejudice and discrimination. 

 “Wherever I am, I’m thinking about how we can bring the community into the classroom or get the kids out of the classroom to learn from other people,” says Miss Ralph. 
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Miss Ralph’s dedication to providing real-world learning for her students has led to her being named a finalist for the 2018 QCT Excellence in Teaching Award.

In one of her English units on ageism, Miss Ralph escorts students to a local aged-care facility, where they interview residents and publish a book that features stories told to the students, which is then gifted to the centre.   

“Melanie has exceptional communication skills, which are most evident in her warm and animated nature with her deaf students,” says colleague Hillary Scroope.
​
Miss Ralph works alongside highly skilled interpreters to establish positive relationships between herself and her students, which she understands is vital to their success and inclusion. 
​“I have a sign actually, for me, Miss Ralph. They made a sign for me three years ago, I was very flattered,” said Miss Ralph, “I’m told it means ‘relaxed’.” 
Miss Ralph’s passion for supporting deaf students inspired her to lead a professional development workshop for other staff about using ICT to better engage deaf students in ‘spoken’ assessment tasks. The workshop was part of a series about the use of ICTs in the classroom, run under Melanie’s aptly named ‘Highway to Dell’ program.

When asked about her future plans Miss Ralph said, “I don’t want to leave the classroom, that’s where I’m happy.” She plans to explore the new Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher certification process from next year. 

Congratulations Miss Ralph on being named a finalist for the 2018 Excellence in Teaching Award. 

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