MISS COOPER’S BEST IN CLASS
CLOVER Hill State School teacher Amelia Cooper says seeing her Prep pupils grasp their learning was a great reward. But now she herself has shot to the top of the class, winning the Bulletin’s Best Teacher competition.
AMELIA Cooper says working with children is “like solving a puzzle”.
“To see a child grasp a concept, become inspired by an idea or simply excited to attend school is extremely rewarding,” the Clover Hill State School preschool teacher said.
“This is especially evident when teaching Prep as students end their first year of school with the foundations for lifelong skills in reading, writing and number knowledge.”
Miss Cooper was this month selected as the Gold Coast’s Best Teacher as part of the Bulletin’s Best of the Gold Coast series.
In an overwhelming response from readers, Miss Cooper polled the most votes from 20 finalists who were narrowed down from an original nomination list.
Verging on tears the 27year-old said she was “really grateful and flattered” to be nominated.
“I would like to thank all the parents who put my name forward in the competition,” she said. “Thank you for recognising and appreciating the effort, time and organisation that goes into teaching your children.”
Parent Mieka Michelle Pearce said: “We were so lucky to have her as our son’s first teacher. She is a beautiful, kind-hearted person. Our kids truly got the best start to their school days. She is the best.”
Miss Cooper beat Norfolk Village State School’s Krystal Brown, Michael Henderson from Coomera Anglican
College, All Saints Anglican School’s Sean Bale, and Kristin Fitzgerald from St Hilda’s.
Ms Fitzgerald told the Bulletin her career highlight was educating Prince Harry and Prince William at London’s Wetherby Preparatory School.
After teaching for more than 32 years, Ms Fitzgerald encouraged others to pursue the “special profession”.
“If it is a career you feel passionate about you should go for it,” she said.
“I love it.”