The trio of teachers bending over backwards for their additional needs students

Each day may bring its challenges but this particular day for these teachers was their most rewarding yet.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Georgia Walsh, Kate at Chinchilla C & K bend over backyards daily for their additional needs students.

THEY are three women full of passion, and willing to give every one of their students an equal opportunity to learn and cater to each of their needs.

Friday, October 25 was Australia’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day.

And while there are many outstanding teachers in our region, Georgia Walsh, Kate Offner and Melissa Brown from the C & K Chinchilla Community Kindergarten were the standout nominations because of how hard they work for each of their students. They were also honoured to be nominated.

“We try and do everything possible to support the students and we are very passionate about what we do,” Ms Walsh said.

“We have also been getting in community members that they work with, such as occupational and speech therapists and work along side of them to help our students.”

The mother who nominated the three ladies said her daughter has additional needs, and the way all three teachers have included her daughter and immersed her in the kindy experience has been wonderful.

“My daughter has improved out of sight this year and has made some lovely little friends along the way,” the mum said.

“She can’t tell us, but her smile when we arrive at kindy tells us she’s thrilled to be there every day.

“We will be forever grateful for these lovely ladies for giving our daughter the opportunity to learn in such a fabulous environment, surrounded by fabulous people.”

Even though their job can be really challenging at times, with children getting frustrated because they can’t communicate and each new day seems to bring a new challenge, it can be a highly rewarding for them.

Working in close partnerships with the students’ families, on Monday one of the additional needs students’ mothers brought in a new speech program that’s on a iPad.

At the moment the student is unable to communicate so they have been looking at different ways for her to communicate with them, so they are trying to use the iPad program to make it easier.

“That came in today and we were blown away with how much she engages with it and how wonderful it was,” Ms Offner said.

With the new program, the student was able to point to a picture, tap it and it could say what she wanted and she was able to get it herself, creating that independence.

To see her communicate more efficiently almost brought a tear to their eyes.

“She was excited but I’m pretty sure we were far more excited,” she said.

“Every day is a great, but it’s those particular moments that you think all that work is paying off.”

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