Situated in a 21-student classroom at Gunnedah Public School (GPS), stage one teacher Lauren Perry has won a recognition award from the Teacher’s Guild of NSW.

Lauren received the award on World Teachers’ Day in Sydney.

It was the executive team at the school consisting of the principal Cath McMaster, deputy principal Will Dowe and assistant principals, Aylish Flannery, Donna Austin and Kim Dowdell, that put her name forward.

Lauren was described as a role model for the other teachers by said team and someone who always remained calm.

She was nominated for her teaching skills along with the effort she puts into her job – in and out of the classroom.

“It is pretty amazing. I am very shocked, and I did not expect it,” Lauren said, still waiting for the realisation to sink in.

Originally from the Central Coast, Lauren has been teaching for eight years and has been at Gunnedah Public School for three of those.

Lauren brought with her experience from working at a larger school that consisted of 600-800 students.

She quickly found the benefit of working at a smaller school was getting to know each individual student.

Watching the children push themselves to improve motivates her to do well.

“The school is what has helped me be a better teacher, and the children there inspire me,” Lauren said.

“You can see the difference you are making.

“I love it, the community is great – the staff and my colleagues. I can only be as good as the executive team,” she said.

She said Gunnedah Public School provided her with a supportive community to share ideas with.

Lauren emphasised that any of

her colleagues could have received the award.

This was the first time the school had nominated one of its staff with principal Cath McMaster stating there were multiple teachers that could have been nominated with the amount of knowledge and dedication the staff had shown this year.

Lauren was just one of many teachers from a variety of schools honoured at the ceremony.

“I am very grateful,” she said.

The award reads:

Lauren Perry is an exceptional classroom operator. She is dedicated to creating effective routines in the classroom to ensure students are comfortable in their environment and ready for learning throughout the day. Lauren creates obvious results in students’ learning across the important areas of literacy and numeracy. She eagerly participates in Professional Learning to enhance her craft and she readily invites colleagues to observe her effective teaching methods. Lauren happily assists in the day-to-day smooth running of the School. Lauren Perry is a worthy recipient of the 2024 Teachers’ Guild of NSW World Teachers’ Day Recognition Award.

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