North Albany Senior High teacher Richard Hall awarded $10,000 Toyota STEM Teachers Scholarship

North Albany Senior High School teacher Richard Hall has been awarded a $10,000 Toyota Community Trust STEM Teachers Scholarship in recognition of being one of Australia’s top STEM public school teachers.

Mr Hall is one of nine teachers to receive the inaugural Australia-wide award and the money will go towards covering the cost of professional development courses in STEM related subjects.

The dedicated design and technology teacher said that it was an honour to be awarded the scholarship.

“Receiving this recognition is truly humbling and incredibly gratifying,” he said.

“It’s a validation of the hard work, dedication and passion that I see in the staff at NASHS.

“It’s a reminder of the impact we can have on the students as they develop their skills in our area.”

Mr Hall has taught in the technologies learning area for 20 years, a role that has required adapting to a rapidly changing field and embracing new tech.

“I teach a range of subjects from trade-based skills in the workshop preparing the students for employment through to incorporating emerging technologies such as industrial design using the laser cutter, 3D printers, virtual reality goggles and CNC Router,” he said.

“STEM is a cross-curricular approach to learning that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“It develops critical skills such as teamwork, independent thinking, critical analysis and problem solving that are required to be competitive in the ever-changing workforce.”

Public Education Foundation chief executive officer David Riordan said that professional development for STEM teachers like Mr Hall has wide-reaching benefits.

“We at the Public Education Foundation are very appreciative of the Toyota Community Trust for supporting these incredibly important scholarships which cover the cost of professional development for teachers of STEM across the nation,” Mr Riordan said.

“This professional development ensures these teachers are up to date with the latest developments and research, ultimately assisting students in public schools achieve their full potential.”

Mr Hall said that student involvement was critical to engagement.

“To engage my students I employ a variety of hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities that foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking,’ he said.

“I strive to make connections between classroom concepts and real-world applications, showing students how STEM related thinking impacts their lives and the world around them.”

The ace academic said he will use his scholarship to inform the development of a dynamic, industry leading STEM program for NASHS students.