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Ruth MacLean
​Indooroopilly State High School

Picture
A former engineer who came to Australia to implement the 3G network and now helps to boost high school students’ results is a finalist in state teaching awards.

Over the past twelve years, Indooroopilly State High School (ISHS) Science and Physics teacher Ruth MacLean has forged a reputation for re-engaging students in their learning and lifting their NAPLAN results, as well as dramatically increasing peer observation and collaboration amongst staff at her schools.
​
In her previous school, Ipswich State High School, a large number of students were struggling to achieve National Minimum Standards (NMS) for NAPLAN numeracy results. As the Head of Whole School Numeracy, Mrs MacLean looked for trends in the data to identify hotspots, just as she had in her previous career. 
She introduced QuickSmart, a University of New England program which centred around responsive small-group intervention to improve the learning experience of at-risk students in Year 7.  QuickSmart saw the number of students achieving NMS increase from 76.3 per cent to 96.1 per cent. Mrs MacLean is pleased to see the program, continues today and now incorporates literacy intervention.

Since 2016 Mrs MacLean has been working at ISHS, developing a new Physics program that has seen an increase in student enrolment and success.

She is also part of the Learning and Teaching team, with the number of teachers observing each other doubling, leading to more feedback, collaboration and growth.

Mrs MacLean said she was touched that she was being acknowledged by her teaching peers, citing collaboration with others as invaluable. “There’s a wealth of knowledge in schools. The work that I have been able to do is the direct result of collaboration with other teachers,” she said.

She said one piece of advice offered to her by a Head of Department has stayed with her.

“To every challenge or every adversity there is an opportunity for growth. Even if it takes you some time to see that path. To not be too disheartened in the moment and to see what it is that you can learn from that and take that forward,” she said.

Mrs MacLean said it was particularly satisfying to teach young people from Years 8 to 12 and help them grow.

As a teenager growing up in Belfast, she went to her parents in Year 10 and advised them that she wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a teacher. They told her they weren’t sure it was a great idea, so she went into electrical engineering and ended up working for Nokia.

Now they are pleased to accept that ultimately their daughter made the right choice.

As a finalist, Mrs MacLean received $500 for professional development.


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  • Home
    • TEACHX AWARDS >
      • Beginning to Teach Award Nominees 2019
      • 2019 TEACHX Winners
      • 2019 TEACHX Finalists
      • 2019 TEACHX Nominees >
        • 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
  • Claire Cummins
  • Anxiety and trauma―an expert’s advice