More local teachers were recognised at the state teaching awards this year than any other area in Queensland.
Thirteen of the 78 teachers who were finalists in the TeachX awards earlier this month were from Logan-based schools.
Of this 17%, two were announced as winners: Reuben Davis from Loganlea State High School and Brittany Watts from Yarrabilba State Secondary College.
Both teachers received Excellence in Beginning to Teach awards.
Mr Davis was recognised for his efforts in cultural enagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, less that one year into his teaching career.
A First Nations man himself, Mr Davis helped the school partner with local Indigenous organisations like Gunya Meta to provide mentoring and cultural awareness programs.
He helped create a bush tucker garden, a dance group, and a cultural care group that has increased student attendace by 6% in 12 months, according to awards organisers from the Queensland College of Teachers.
Earlier this year, Mr Davis was awarded a NAIDOC educator award for his work.
While only three years into her career, Ms Watts has “reshaped the culture of mathematics learning” at Yarrabilba, according to QTC.
She created an advanced mathematics course for Year 10 students that combines complex content with targeted intervention which has “dramatically lifted” student results and helped prepare them for senior STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
For one mathematics subject, student results jumped from 20% to 83% in one year.
Ms Watts was also praised for her lunctime and after-school tutorials, which have helped another mathematics subject achieve a 100% pass rate.
