By Danielle Kutchel
A Hampton Park teacher has been named one of the best in the state at this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Averil Mitchell, leading teacher student engagement and inclusion at Hampton Park Primary School, was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Primary Teacher Award at a livestreamed ceremony on Friday 20 November.
Ms Mitchell was recognised for her “sustained commitment to building positive relationships and expertise across the school and wider community”, with the Awards noting that she “has been instrumental in creating a successful, safe and supportive learning environment for all students”.
Ms Mitchell said just being nominated had been humbling enough, let alone being named the winner, and said it was the result of the hard work of a team of educators and staff at the school.
“There’s an enormous team of people that goes into creating this school community and the health and wellbeing of our kids,” she said.
Ms Mitchell has been a teacher at Hampton Park for 22 years, beginning as a year 5/6 teacher. Her current role has evolved from a part-time position over her time at the school.
Her current role encompasses supporting the engagement and wellbeing of students at the school and ensuring the classroom is a positive environment where all children are able to achieve.
She leads the Program for Students with Disabilities and the Education Support Inclusion Team, ensuring staff are aware of the adjustments necessary for individual students.
Ms Mitchell said after a tricky year, staff were mindful of the impact of Covid on students and would put in place any support services that students might need.
Wellbeing was thrown into sharp relief during the pandemic, and Ms Mitchell and the team stepped up to the challenge.
Throughout remote learning, the school’s wellbeing team remained in contact with families, checking in to provide advice and support.
“It takes a village to support our kids,” Ms Mitchell explained
“It takes all of us working together with the school’s vision to work towards improving student outcomes for every student in our school.”
