Alice Chigwidden, St Francis of Assisi School crowned SA’s best teacher

We asked you to vote for SA’s best teachers and now they have been found. Meet the winner and find out why it’s her responsibility to educate the next generation.

Teachers across the globe have an important hand in raising the next generation and it’s a responsibility South Australia’s best teacher does not take lightly.

Alice Chigwidden, of St Francis of Assisi School in Newton, has been crowned SA’s best teacher for 2022 as a part of The Messenger’s ‘Best of’ series.

“It’s not an easy job but your heart has to be in it,” Ms Chigwidden said.

“I consider it such a responsibility to be a teacher and a privilege to have children in my care.

Alice Chigwidden of St Francis of Assisi School has been named SA's best teacher for 2022. She is pictured with some of her students. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s not just the academics you are dealing with, it’s the emotional and social wellbeing as well.”

Ms Chigwidden started her career in Clare where she excelled in teaching primary school children.

“Teaching was always something I saw myself doing ever since I was in high school choosing my work experience,” Ms Chigwidden said.

“I’ve always loved working with kids, I started teaching receptions before taking on the older primary ages.”

Now with nearly two decades under her belt, Ms Chigwidden said the biggest change she has seen in her career has been how schools adapted throughout the Covid period.

“We were really fortunate at St Francis that we were already in that online routine so I don’t think it impacted the kids all that much and I really felt for those who weren’t prepared,” she said.

“But what was impacted was being able to build that relationship with the kids, but you just have to adapt and do it in different ways.

“It wasn’t until things returned to normal I think we all realised how important that truly is.”