Scholarship winner Hannah Rivers (pictured) started her career as a temporary teacher at Cumnock Public School, about 60 kilometres from Orange. Her desire to work in public education came after working as a School Learning Support Officer and it drove her through her Master of Teaching.
It was Hannah’s principal at Cumnock Public School who recommended she apply for the Public Education Foundation Scholarship for Early Career Teachers.
In her application, Hannah expressed the importance of keeping highly motivated teachers in rural and regional schools as well as the need for equal resources for regional students. She plans to use the scholarship of up to $10,000, sponsored by Teachers Health, for post-graduate research into educational leadership and evidence-based teaching.
Hannah credits the invaluable support of a mentor in her first year of teaching as the reason for her continuing passion for the profession and for rural schools. At the beginning of term 2 this year, she was successful in gaining a permanent position at Cudal Public School.
Hannah encourages other early career teachers to apply for this scholarship and would like to thank the Public Education Foundation and Teachers Health for the opportunities this scholarship will provide.