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Arts, English and Literacy Education Research Network news

Member news | Articles in the media about the network

Kay Yasugi returns from her study trip

Honours graduate and University Medal winner, Kay Yasugi won a Thomas T. Roberts fellowship to travel to the London School of Puppetry. Kay brings some unique skills and insight back to Australia to inform her passion for both puppetry and education, as well as receiving a Masters Level Diploma from the London School of Puppetry.

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You can follow this link 'from London to Denmark', with some news and photos of Kay's experiences abroad. The newsletter was first published in Australian Puppeteer, no. 38, June 2009 (UNIMA).

2008 Paul Brock Awards for Excellence in the Teaching of English

Winners of Paul brock Awards for Excellence in the Teaching of English 2008

The winners of the inaugural Paul Brock Awards for Excellence in the Teaching of English were announced on October 9, by NSW Education Minister Verity Firth at the "Teaching English and the arts" international conference hosted by the AELE Research Network.

Ms Firth presented awards to each of the winners, pictured (clockwise from top), Susan Stevens (Gosford High School), Rachel Devlin (Highly Commended; Rooty Hill High School), Stephen Henry (Cherrybrook Technology High School) and Dr Joanne McPherson (Dorrigo High School).

Winners received honorary membership of the network, an award certificate, $1000 and a plaque and citation.

The award, which will be presented annually, is open to all teachers of English in NSW Government secondary schools and is co-sponsored by the AELE Research Network and the NSW Secondary Principals' Council. It recognises teachers who:

  • have a deep knowledge of and passion for English language, literature, and other texts and demonstrate enthusiasm, imagination, creativity, flare, thoroughness, and flexibility in inspiring students to engage in the study and practices of English
  • set and consistently abide by the highest professional standards and set high expectations for all students
  • engage students with respect, empathy, discipline, and an appropriate sense of humour
  • are acknowledged as outstanding teachers by students, colleagues and parents, as well as by the principal and the school executive.

Nominations for the 2009 awards close on May 29.

Member news

Associate Professor Robyn Ewing and Dr Robyn Gibson were guest editors in 2007 of the international journal English teaching: practice and critique, the ‘Arts in education’ special edition.

Drs Jacqueline Manuel and Michael Anderson are actively involved in the NSW Board of Studies, English and drama examination and syllabus committees, 2007–09.

Dr Paul Brock, AM FACE (adjunct professor, Faculty of Education and Social Work, and honorary member, AELE Research Network) gave an address on 9 April 2008 tilted 'Sharing the fire, discarding the brimstone: some reflections on the joys and challenges of English for those preparing to become secondary school English teachers'.

Dr Paul Brock gave an address to faculty guests on 9 April 2008 tilted 'Rebutting Andrew Leigh's assertions about a continuous decline in literacy standards'.

The book Reading under the covers: helping children choose books, which was edited by Dr Alyson Simpson, was launched on 27 March 2008.

Dr Paul Brock gave the Occasional Address at the graduation ceremony of the faculty in the Great Hall on 30 November 2007.

The book Drama in English: imagination, engagement and action (Oxford University Press) was launched in November 2007. It featured chapters by Associate Professor Robyn Ewing and Drs Michael Anderson, John Hughes and Jacqueline Manuel.

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Articles in the media about the network

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