Sheva Butler
Wondai State School
Students as young as four years old are exposed to coding and robotics at Wondai State School in rural southeast Queensland thanks to an exceptional early childhood educator.
Sheva (Siobhan) Butler’s extensive knowledge of early childhood education, built up over more than 20 years working in kindergarten settings in Australia and the United Kingdom, helps her create exciting learning experiences in her classes.
Sheva is a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award, thanks to her captivating lessons that have excited students and parents alike.
She also uses the skills she learnt at the United States Space Camp in Alabama to provide students with rich experiences with technology.
Students in Sheva’s classroom follow a saying inspired by an astronaut from the Space Camp, that “if you want something, anything is possible if you try, try, try”.
Sheva’s colleague Libby Edwards says Wondai is fortunate to have a ‘tech guru’ such as Sheva, who is so passionate about teaching.
“A testament to Sheva’s teaching style is the number of students that show up for her Technology Clubs every week,” she says. “She has had to cap numbers and create groups to cater for the overwhelming demand from students.”
Sheva says she introduced coding and robotics to students in every class she taught, and that she highly valued the use of electronics in learning.
“The thing that excites me the most is that they think they’re just playing when they’re not,” Sheva says. “They’re getting their mathematics and engineering skills in there while they’re creating, and that’s why I love robotics.”
An average day in Sheva’s classroom involves the students becoming ‘detectives’, working together to discover new strategies to solve problems in ‘Word Study’ challenges.
Her dedication is also displayed through her outstanding efforts to cater for her students’ needs. She has attended several professional seminars in her own time to further her understanding of Asperger Syndrome.
QCT Director John Ryan thanks Sheva for her commitment to providing students with an outstanding and exciting education.
Winners of the QCT Excellence in Teaching Awards will be announced on October 27, on the night before World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in Australia.
Congratulations Sheva on being a finalist.
Sheva (Siobhan) Butler’s extensive knowledge of early childhood education, built up over more than 20 years working in kindergarten settings in Australia and the United Kingdom, helps her create exciting learning experiences in her classes.
Sheva is a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award, thanks to her captivating lessons that have excited students and parents alike.
She also uses the skills she learnt at the United States Space Camp in Alabama to provide students with rich experiences with technology.
Students in Sheva’s classroom follow a saying inspired by an astronaut from the Space Camp, that “if you want something, anything is possible if you try, try, try”.
Sheva’s colleague Libby Edwards says Wondai is fortunate to have a ‘tech guru’ such as Sheva, who is so passionate about teaching.
“A testament to Sheva’s teaching style is the number of students that show up for her Technology Clubs every week,” she says. “She has had to cap numbers and create groups to cater for the overwhelming demand from students.”
Sheva says she introduced coding and robotics to students in every class she taught, and that she highly valued the use of electronics in learning.
“The thing that excites me the most is that they think they’re just playing when they’re not,” Sheva says. “They’re getting their mathematics and engineering skills in there while they’re creating, and that’s why I love robotics.”
An average day in Sheva’s classroom involves the students becoming ‘detectives’, working together to discover new strategies to solve problems in ‘Word Study’ challenges.
Her dedication is also displayed through her outstanding efforts to cater for her students’ needs. She has attended several professional seminars in her own time to further her understanding of Asperger Syndrome.
QCT Director John Ryan thanks Sheva for her commitment to providing students with an outstanding and exciting education.
Winners of the QCT Excellence in Teaching Awards will be announced on October 27, on the night before World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in Australia.
Congratulations Sheva on being a finalist.
- Story by Jessica Schwilk