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Lead Teacher

Tracey Peden

Atherton State School & Tolga State School
Picture
Tracey Peden describes applying to become a Lead Teacher as “the most challenging yet rewarding process” she has undergone throughout her professional life, including as a former Chartered Accountant.

“The certification process itself provided me with professional development like no other I’ve undertaken,” the Master Teacher at Atherton State School and Tolga State School says.

“It provided me with the opportunity to closely examine, reflect upon and improve my teaching practice,” Tracey says.

“After I submitted my portfolio and reflected on the enormous amount of time and effort I had invested in the process, I believed that no matter what the outcome I had become a better teacher just from engaging in the process.”

“It was an extremely rigorous process and to have been formally certified as a Lead Teacher was a defining moment in my career.”

Tracey, who has been teaching for the past ten years, says she decided to take part in the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher pilot because it gave her the opportunity to formally examine and reflect upon her own teaching practice against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Tracey, a growth mindset advocate, was also seeking a new challenge to improve her teaching practice. 

“I didn’t know if I would be successful or not but believed that no matter what the outcome, there would be learnings from engaging in the process and it would put me in good stead for the future,” Tracey says.

“Since becoming certified I have been successful in securing a transfer to the Darling Downs South West (DDSW) region as a classroom teacher.  Achieving Lead Teacher certification will enable me to progress my career whilst being on class,” she says.



Tracey's Tips:

  • Start collecting and annotating evidence early.
  • Allow time to experiment with a process that works for you. There is no right or wrong way of collecting and annotating evidence for your portfolio.
  • Find a fellow HAT or LT applicant to work with, the moral support you give each other will be very important. 
  • Finally, I believe you need good family support. 

​“Also, the DDSW is a non-pilot region so hopefully I will be able to use my experience to support other teachers through the certification process.”

She says the ability to be recognised as Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher provides teachers with credibility and an incentive to keep doing what they love and enjoy.

“For me, I think it formally recognises the important contribution that exemplary teachers are making to quality teaching, learning and leadership in schools,” Tracey says.

“The certification process enhances the professionalism of teachers; it will encourage teachers to contribute to the advancement of schools whilst being in the classroom
— there’s not that need to have to move out of the classroom to do that,” she says.

“I was ready for a change and ready to go back on class and the certification process has enabled me to go back on class, do what I love, but to also lead and to support other teachers.”
​
Tracey, who along with fellow lead teacher Carly Sopronick founded and coordinates their regional Cluster Collaboration Network, also believes the certification process will promote collaboration between schools, and will help teachers if they wish to find employment interstate
.
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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