Top marks for teachers
27 October 2009
Long service ... Seven of Glenvale State School's eight 25-year medallists: Angela Stevenson, Rosemary Goodsell, Mary Appleford, Brigitte Jones (back row), Cary Gordon, Ian Littleton and Alex McCurley (front row).
World Teachers' Day is celebrated in more than 100 countries and hundreds of Queensland's hardest working educators will be honoured this year, writes Rebecca Perry.
A "job for life" may be a diminishing workforce trend but plenty of Queensland teachers are proving it is still possible.
To mark World Teachers' Day on October 30 more than 1700 teachers and education staff will be honoured by the Department of Education and Training for reaching career milestones of five, 10 and 20 years.
Nearly 500 employees will celebrate more than 25 years on the job.
At Glenvale State School on Toowoomba's outskirts, principal David Saxton said staff seemed to stick around - about a third will commemorate their long service with a morning tea on World Teachers' Day.
'Eight staff will celebrate 25 years, one has been teaching for 20 years, another two have reached 10 years and we also have a five-year recipient,' Mr Saxton said.
Among them is 33-year teaching veteran Rosemary Goodsell, who coordinates curriculum and teaches Year 2.
Over the years, she has watched Glenvale grow from 50 children to nearly 600. Ms Goodsell said an ability to adapt to changes had helped her last the distance.
'If you learn to adapt and reflect on your practices, changing along with the children and the world around us, it really helps the way you work,' she said.
Ms Goodsell's pre-retirement plans include teaching in Russia with her husband George, a Languages other than English (LOTE) teacher.
Fellow 25-year medallist Cary Gordon, who teaches a Year 6-7 composite class and oversees information and communication technology at Glenvale, said the camaraderie at the school had been as rewarding as helping students.
'The staff have become a second family to me,' Mr Gordon said.
For more information on DET's service recognition visit the website.
World Teacher's Day will also be commemorated with the announcement of the winners of the Queensland College of Teachers' first Excellence in Teaching Awards, with eight state school teachers among the 15 finalists.
Winners receive $5000 and finalists collect $500 towards professional development. For more information visit the QCT website 
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