There was a closely guarded secret kept in the halls of Narrabri Public School for around 10 weeks.
And the secret was out when it was announced that Year 4 teacher Clare Bollen was to be a recipient of the prestigious 2023 Alan Kerr Early Career Service Memorial Award.
The presentation, aptly held on World Teachers’ Day, was a collaboration organised between the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) and the New England Education Cooperative, with the awards ceremony held in Armidale on Friday, October 27.
Miss Bollen, nominated by Narrabri Public School assistant principal curriculum and instruction Tess Lindsay, is one of four recipients of the honour given within the New England district.
The award honours the life and work of the late Alan Kerr (1933-1993) and is made to practicing teachers for excellence in classroom teaching with between two and six years of service at the time of the nomination.
Criteria encompasses demonstration that a nominee’s work is leading to improved educational outcomes, shows a contribution to improving life within the school community, and is illustrating the potential to become an even more outstanding educator.
Alan Kerr’s many interests were translated into his superb teaching programs, his research, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, and his many consultancies.
To recount Alan Kerr’s role as educationalist is to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to better understanding and better practice in teaching methodologies, reading and readability, linguistics, modern languages, and English as a second language.
Alan Kerr was an active and dedicated member of a grand total of ten state, national and international professional associations, as well as editorial board member of the Australian Journal of Reading and the Journal of Intercultural Studies.
He was also Chairman of the NSW Chapter of the Australian College of Education.
“It’s such an honour to receive this award,” said Miss Bollen.
“I’ve been surrounded by teachers within my family my whole life and I’ve always felt really passionately about the power of education to change lives.
“I was lucky enough to be placed at Narrabri Public School for my internship as part of my ‘Teach Rural’ scholarship.
“I was even luckier that I was then placed there with a permanent job as part of that scholarship after completing my internship.
“I’m so grateful that the start of my career has been in Narrabri.
“The community of Narrabri Public School is really cohesive.
“The school is an incredible environment where I’ve always felt completely supported by my supervisors and colleagues to develop myself as a teacher and continuously learn and improve my teaching practice.
Narrabri Public School assistant principal Travis Heffernan, Alan Kerr outstanding emerging early career award recipient Clare Bollen, and Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of New England Caroline Cohrssen.
“I love seeing the impact this has on my students and helping them to develop their potential and become independent and engaged learners.
“I have really appreciated working in a rural school and being able to become a part of the close-knit community, where the connections you make are long lasting. The opportunities I’ve had and the relationships I’ve developed within the school and the wider community, are priceless.
“I aim to bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to the classroom every day.
“I’ve been inspired by great teacher role models throughout my life about the importance of treating each student with warmth and consistency, in order to ultimately inspire and encourage such traits in my students as well.
“It goes without saying that getting to know our students is essential in order to spark their interest and engagement.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this career.”
Being surrounded by teachers within the family dates back to Miss Bollen’s maternal grandparents, with a pull towards the education industry influenced by strong ties to the profession.
With Miss Bollen’s mother and aunt both high school teachers at Crookwell, her father working in adult education for the police academy at Charles Sturt University, a younger sister finishing university to become a high school teacher, an older sister a school counsellor, an uncle a university lecturer, and a cousin a high school teacher in Sydney, it’s not hard to see where this pull comes from.
“Clare completed her teaching internship as part of her Masters of Education program with our school in 2020,” said Mrs Lindsay.
“It was clear that her connection to her students and exceptional work ethic were the exact attributes we were looking for in an educator.
“Clare successfully secured her Rural and Remote permanent position at our school after completing her final practicum.
“In term four, 2020, she joined our school team and has shown outstanding work in professional knowledge, professional practice, and professional engagement in her chosen career.
“Clare is a worthy recipient of the Alan Kerr Award for her exemplary contributions to the education of students at Narrabri Public School.
“Her commitment to developing her own and other’s potential, and her willingness to undertake responsibilities well beyond her role, are vital in creating opportunities for all students to reach their full potential.
“Clare’s passion and professionalism strengthen the fabric of our school culture and she is held in the highest esteem by our school community for being an exemplary educator.
“I nominated Clare because I feel she is an exceptional and inspiring young teacher.
“She has a very special relationship with students, staff, and the community alike.
“When Clare finished her internship practice with us in 2020, we knew that we wanted Clare back in the fold as a permanent teacher here at the school.
“Clare was simply born to be a teacher.”
Alan Kerr outstanding emerging early career award recipient Narrabri Public School Yr4 teacher Clare Bollen making her acceptance speech.
