By ALENA HIGGINS
MASTER teachers have been appointed to eight state schools across the region in a bid to boost student outcomes and teacher quality.
From 2015, Stanthorpe State School and Clifton State High School will each receive a dedicated master teacher, while another two will work across school “clusters” in the Warwick and Goondiwindi districts.
The specialised teachers have been identified as educators who can improve academic performance and will assist their counterparts to deliver high quality and engaging lessons.
Stanthorpe State School principal Jo-Anne Pozzi welcomed the new role.
“This is an additional allocation for Stanthorpe primary and it is going to add value to the work that is currently being done around literacy and numeracy,“ Ms Pozzi said.
“We have two areas of research that we are keen to investigate and these are linked to improving outcomes in reading and lifting numeracy outcomes.”
The Warwick State High School cluster comprises Warwick West State School, Warwick Central State School and Warwick East State School, while Texas P-10 School falls under the Goondiwindi State High School umbrella.
Primary schools which host a master teacher will receive up to $75,000 over three years to support early literacy and numeracy learning.
Ms Pozzi said the funds would be put to good use.
“The $75 000 will be utilised to support coaching and feedback and professional development for the master teacher and all classroom teachers at Stanthorpe State School,” she said.
About 300 master teachers will work across 463 schools throughout the state as part of the Queensland Government’s Great Teachers = Great Results direct action plan.
The master teachers have been appointed for three years and two-thirds will work with primary schools.
