Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli and Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons recently visited Moorebank High School to see the school’s innovative teacher mentoring and coaching program in action.
School principal Nick Magriplis welcomed them to the school.
“The program was clearly demonstrated in teacher Jay Short’s Year 10 class,” Mr Piccoli said.
“This is Mr Short’s fourth year as a teacher and the mentoring and coaching he has received is benefiting his students.
“He has a particular interest in creative and critical thinking, which he has worked into his lessons with the help of a mentor.
“I was impressed by the focus and enthusiasm of his students and their commitment to learning.”
Ms Gibbons said coaching also extended to students under the Learn to Live Leadership program.
“Extra learning support is available to students under the guidance of the school’s Student Leadership and Engagement Co-ordinator Nick Sergi,” Ms Gibbons said.
“Mr Sergi’s role was created by the school using its equity funding and it is clearly paying dividends for students and the school as a whole.
“It shows the great results that can be achieved when funding is well directed.
“The results speak for themselves with the school surpassing attendance targets, suspensions are down by more than 50 per cent and there has been a major boost in the satisfaction rating in parent community surveys.’’
Ms Gibbons said that since the election of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government in 2011, more than $508 million has been invested in public education in the Holsworthy area.
“In addition, we have provided $14.7 million for school maintenance and major projects in public schools,” Ms Gibbons said.
“A further $56.8 million has been provided to non-government schools, proof of the commitment of the NSW Liberals & Nationals to education in the Holsworthy area.”
