Renee Pettit, Lead Teacher, Warilla High School

Renee grew up in Kiama on the south coast and could not have predicted the path her career would take after graduation.

'In 1998 I found myself posted to a place I’d never heard of called West Wyalong,' she says.

'It was extremely challenging to start with, being quite isolated and in unfamiliar surrounds.

'However, the school and small country community embraced me and I grew to love the town and the people. In fact, I married a local boy and stayed there for over seven-and-a-half years.'

Renee moved back to the Illawarra some time later to teach PDHPE and as Head Teaching and Learning at Illawarra Sports High, before securing her current role as Head Teaching and Learning at Warilla High School.

'The Head Teaching and Learning role was a new one for me and for the school, which proved beneficial in the long run as I was able to mould the position to really suit the long term needs of the school,' Renee explains.

'I really found my niche in this teaching and learning role. There is something so beneficial and rewarding in developing and supporting your colleagues.'

Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher accreditation provided a mechanism for Renee to reflect on her own career, continue to grow her profession and establish a framework to support the school’s more than 100 teaching staff.

'I was responsible for supporting and coordinating accreditation requirements, so thought the best way to learn about it was to do it myself,' she says.

'Through the process my confidence in evidencing impact grew profoundly.

'I have been able to take these learnings and impart them to others, and that’s where the impact really starts.

'Through talking, networking and discussing different methods and styles of teaching there has been a change in the whole school mindset.

'HALT accreditation is bigger than just the individual. Yes, it is about validating your practice and provides an important confidence boost, but it is also about recognising great teachers and keeping them in the classroom.

'HALT accreditation provides the conditions for teachers to flourish.'