A Yarrabilba teacher who “reshaped the culture of mathematics learning” has been recognised as one of Queensland’s best educators, after helping students lift results from failing to top of the class.
Brittany Watts, from Yarrabilba State Secondary College, received an Excellence in Beginning to Teach award at the state’s annual TeachX Awards – one of 13 Logan educators named as finalists, the highest number from any local government area in Queensland.
Now in just her third year of teaching, Ms Watts has created an advanced mathematics course for Year 10 students that blends complex content with targeted support.
According to the Queensland College of Teachers, the approach has “dramatically lifted student results” and encouraged more students to pursue senior STEM subjects.
In one subject, student achievement jumped from 20% to 83% in just a year. In another, 100% of students passed.
Ms Watts said her motivation came from seeing the difference confidence could make for students who once dreaded the subject.
“It’s always horrible seeing kids hate maths – and that’s sort of the thing at the moment. A lot of kids don’t enjoy it,” she said.
“It’s really nice seeing them succeed and watching their faces when they get something right.
“They’re not coming to class upset anymore – they’re getting excited about it. Watching them feel proud of themselves because they’re actually succeeding at maths for the first time in their lives – it’s a very nice feeling.”
While the cultural shift is already showing results, Ms Watts said it was a long-term effort.
“It’s definitely a long game,” she said.
“At our school the focus is still more on literacy because that’s something we struggle with, but I’m hoping over time we can focus a bit more on numeracy too. They need both.”
Before joining the classroom, Ms Watts worked as a medical secretary for a neurosurgeon – experience she says gave her valuable perspective and maturity when she began teaching at 26.
“Having life experience helped me understand there’s more out there than just school,” she said.
“It’s helped me relate to kids who might not want to go to university, because I can show them there are lots of different pathways – but I can also connect with those aiming for further study.”
Inspired by her own high school maths teacher, Ms Watts said she hoped to pass that spark on to her students.
“I always wanted to be a teacher. I just wasn’t ready when I left school,” she said.
“My Year 12 maths teacher was the reason I wanted to do it.”
