Vanessa Tierney

Sheldon College

Vanessa Tierney really puts the EXTRA in extraordinary.

The Sheldon College Primary teacher is renowned for her outside-the-box teaching strategies and fabulously fun-filled approach to learning.

This, combined with high quality pedagogical practice, professionalism and implementation of the Australian curriculum has led to her nomination for the 2017 QCT Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award. 

Vanessa says her goal is for students to go home at the end of the day, excited to tell their parents about what they have learned.

“I believe the most powerful form of learning is when students are having fun,” says Vanessa.

“If you walk past my classroom, you will often see us singing about fractions or the rock cycle, dressing up and acting, doing artwork, participating in hands-on, collaborative activities, using a range of resources and ICTs, or playing multi-sensory games.” 

Vanessa dresses as a Sensei Warrior and uses actions, chants and rhymes to teach students ‘Kung Fu Punctuation’, as a crazy scientist called ‘Professor Nerdly’ to spark students’ interest in Science, and as a ‘rapper’ to link rap music to poetry.

Students in Vanessa’s classroom are always encouraged to think critically and creatively, and given opportunities to display their skills and passions.

Vanessa worked with her colleagues to create an activity whereby students were required to design and construct a 3D, interactive campsite which represented the Indigenous and European perspectives of Australian settlement and colonisation.

Together with her colleagues, Vanessa also implemented a digital technologies project for Year 4 students to construct a 3D scale model of several of Sheldon College’s buildings using Minecraft, integrating real world mathematical skills.

At a recent Sheldon College community event, Vanessa enthusiastically jumped —snorkel in hand— into the teacher dunk tank: just another example of her ‘give it a go’ attitude.

Vanessa’s colleagues commend her for her exceptional level of professional growth and development over the past 12 months

“She has demonstrated great tenacity to continually learn and improve, setting high expectations and standards for herself,” says Sheldon College Director of Teaching and Learning, Louise Morris.

 Vanessa establishes powerful connections with her students and their families by writing each student a personalised letter with excellent feedback and messages of support.

Congratulations Vanessa on your nomination.