Shondell Thirgood

Humpybong State School

Staff and students of Humpybong State School are inspired everyday by Shondell Thirgood’s positive energy and passion for shaping little minds.

In only her second year of teaching, Shondell has taken on a lead role in a shared teaching space, where she works with two part-time teachers to ensure consistency of teaching and learning and provides emotional support for students and their parents.

Shondell ensures the success of her lessons by planning around the explicit teaching model, I do, We do, You do which sets high expectations and actively engages students in their own learning. 

Using a diverse range of data, Shondell expertly identifies gaps in learning achievements and adapts her teaching strategy to suit the differentiated needs of her students.

She then showcases the outstanding work of her students on a classroom bulletin board, which illustrated students’ learning journeys while creating a sense of value.

Shondell created and shared the idea of a “Vocabulary Wall” inspired by a QCAA session she attended, which is designed to motivate students to write more creatively.

Students in Shondell’s class are always made to feel valued and understood. She regularly makes time to have meaningful conversations with students and parents about their home life, and what’s happening throughout the year.

Congratulations Shondell on your nomination.