Meg Bennett, Highly Accomplished Teacher, Carlingford High School

Meg completed a graduate degree in fine arts before completing her diploma of education.

She set off for the UK to travel and work for three years and in the process gained valuable experience teaching in some of London’s fringe middle schools. It was here she realised her passion for teaching mathematics.

Meg returned to Australia a decade ago determined to become a maths teacher.

She didn’t have to wait long before she secured a permanent teaching gig at Ryde Secondary School and then Carlingford High School.

It was in her role as Head Teacher and Learning at Carlingford High School that Meg realised she also had an interest in teaching adults and further developing her own teaching practice.

'There’s something satisfying about teaching other teachers. It’s about the bigger picture,' she explains.

'To begin with it was about training teachers in the use of interactive whiteboards and new technologies but soon evolved to mentoring early career teachers and guiding professional development.'

'I was particularly motivated in my role and realised I should put my money where my mouth was and go through the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher accreditation process.'

Over the next two years Meg gathered and annotated evidence, all while raising two young kids.

'It was an immensely satisfying process and one I would encourage others to consider,' she says.

'As teachers we have a role to play in driving student achievement and outcomes. To do this we should always strive to improve and better our own practice and that of those around us.'