Jerrabomberra Public School teacher Mardi Croke is a finalist in the Premier's Awards for Public Service.
NOMINATED by seven-year-old Madison Woodham, Jerrabomberra Public School teacher Mardi Croke is now a finalist in the Premier’s Awards in Public Service.
Madison nominated Ms Croke for being a caring and supportive classroom teacher in her first year at school.
Ms Croke is being recognised in the “individual excellence and achievement” category for her classroom teaching as well as the initiatives she drives outside of the classroom. This included a program to help families with special needs at the school.
The program focused on ways to help families deal with “difficult behaviour” which Ms Croke said is a topic not always discussed.
Ms Croke said she wanted to create an environment where parents felt supported and where strategies could be discussed openly.
She said this opportunity helped some parents to feel less isolated and new relationships with families in the workshops were formed.
“It is a privilege to be working alongside families and it is very rewarding to see positive results,” she said.
Following the success of the last program Ms Croke will hold another round of workshops in the next few months.
Ms Croke said she was thrilled to be nominated.
“It was overwhelming, it was a lovely surprise and very humbling to be nominated as there are so many teachers who work hard and deserve the recognition also,” she said. “I’m just so lucky to be able to go to a job that I love and enjoy the support of other staff.”
The winners of the Premier’s Awards for Public Service will be announced on Monday November 12.
