One of the state’s most outstanding STEAM* teachers has added another accolade to her name, with the Gold Coast’s Mia Pinnington being announced as a finalist in state teaching awards.

Mrs Pinnington, who won a Peter Doherty Outstanding Teacher of STEM Award earlier this year, was one of Queensland’s first STEAM teachers and has been invited by Apple Australia to tour the state and share her design and technology knowledge.
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Her exceptional leadership in the STEAM area is just one of the reasons she has been named as a finalist in this year’s Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award.

“Teaching at one of the first schools in Queensland with a STEAM subject, I have enjoyed the constant upskilling that comes with the territory – it’s an enjoyable challenge,” she said.

The Coomera Rivers State School (CRSS) teacher has secured a number of grants which have enabled students and teachers to use resources many others don’t have yet.

“At our school, I’ve enjoyed working with teachers at the very beginning of their careers, showing them how to get Year 3 students to create 3D models then send them to the 3D printer across the room, or to get Year 4 students to create Indigenous-inspired models of masks,” Mrs Pinnington said.

“I’ve enjoyed giving our students the opportunity to use their imaginations to be creative, innovative problem-solvers and to campaign for change,” she said. “When I was a traditional classroom teacher, I dabbled a little with design challenges and now I do that every day, so I’m loving where I am now.”

Mrs Pinnington also facilitates the ‘iDesign with STEAM’ program for schools in her region, which provides access to weekly lessons and resources to use with students at their schools. Teachers from other schools come to see how CRSS is engaging students in STEAM and Mrs Pinnington facilitates CRSS ‘Days of Excellence’ for high-performing students in the iDesign program.

Mrs Pinnington has also created a purpose-planned classroom to support students learning in a STEAM context.
The QCT Excellence in Teaching Awards are the only state government awards which recognise teachers from all schooling sectors state-wide across all subjects. Winners will be announced on October 25, on the eve of World Teachers’ Day celebrations in Australia.

Congratulations Mrs Pinnington on being named a finalist. 

*Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.