Kuluin State School teacher Nicky Baker voted best teacher on the Sunshine Coast
We asked our readers to name the best teacher on the Sunshine Coast and now the winner can be revealed. Here’s why a Kuluin State School teacher is so highly regarded:
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Walking through the grounds of Kuluin State School, it’s clear to see why Nicky Baker has been voted the Sunshine Coast’s best teacher.
Children from past years keep running to the grade one teacher to give her a big hug on their lunch break, even though they’re now in a different classroom.
The Sunshine Coast Daily readers voted Ms Baker the best in the region in a recent poll.
Ms Baker said helping to mould the young minds for the past 28 years, and 21 of those years at Kuluin State School, has been a “fulfilling” part of her career.
“I prefer the early childhood because they're so eager to learn and I can mould and shape them into beautiful human beings,” she said.
“I have been teaching a long time, I have strong philosophy and belief in what I do and what works, so even though things do change I still stick to what is true to myself.
“I often tell my parents at the start of each year I will help their children academically but I’m here to help them emotionally, to help them grow and flourish into a beautiful person and help others in the community.”
Ms Baker said the challenges facing today’s children as they grow up in a society where being kind isn’t always the easiest option means providing a space for them to learn these valuable lessons at a young age is crucial.
“There's a lot of things we do in the classroom that we do that are about being kind and helping one another,” she said.
“My philosophy is based around everyone can be something, everyone is here for a purpose.
“I think the base of it is the same but in the world we have today I think it’s more important. Our motto in here is kindness breeds kindness.”
Ms Baker said she was honoured to be voted the best teacher on the Coast and thanked her students and their parents for helping her with her job.
“I tell them the best teacher has to have the best students,” she said.
“I love being here, I love the kids here and I love the parents and their support.
“They're just so helpful but they let me do my job and trust me which makes it a bit easier.”
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