TWO Monterey Secondary College educators have won big awards for their hard work.
Monterey Secondary College principal Peter Langham and teacher Jessica Cridland were winners at the recent 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards.
Langham was appointed acting principal in 2019 amid a time of unrest at the school. He was the third principal appointed for the year. Since then the school has recorded its best VCE results in a decade and improved the completion of senior certificates from 65 per cent to 100 per cent. He was named one of twelve winners of the teaching fellowship award.
Cridland was handed the early career teachers award for her work creating a new sporting program and for her efforts creating pathways for people affected by trauma.
Teaching fellowship award winners receive $45,000 from Commonwealth Bank and Schools Plus. The money goes towards funding a school program, professional development, and an international study tour. Early career teacher award winners receive $10,000 for professional development and mentoring.
Langham said the award was a “real acknowledgment of the collective work of our school leadership team during COVID and over the past few years.”
“It’s a really significant milestone that captures the transformational change within our school and is something I’m incredibly proud of,” he said.
Cridland thanked her fellow staff for their help and support. “I never thought I’d have the opportunities that I’ve had at this school and to be identified as someone who has been recognised as a young leader. I’m so grateful for the staff that I work with and very humbled to be recognised in this way,” she said.
The 22 award winners were chosen from a nominees list of more than 2000 people.