Cherrybrook teacher awarded Local Hero in NSW Australian of the Year award

The Baulkham Hills teacher is the recipient of the 2018 NSW Local Hero award as part of the NSW Australian of the Year.

Eddie Woo, the head teacher of mathematics, at Cherrybrook Technology High School is the recipent of the NSW Local Hero award. Hollie Adams/The Australian

HE IS convinced he is just doing his job — but Cherrybrook Technology High School teacher Edward Woo has revolutionised the way students learn mathematics.

The Baulkham Hills teacher is the recipient of the 2018 NSW Local Hero award as part of the NSW Australian of the Year.

“I have mixed feelings,” Mr Woo said.

“It is an incredible honour and privilege but others nominated are raising millions of dollars for cancer research or faced personal loss, so I feel like I don’t belong.”

Eddie Woo is the head teacher of mathematics at Cherrybrook Technology High School. Hollie Adams/The Australian

But Mr Woo is no regular teacher. His YouTube page, Wootube, which provides fun videos to explain mathematic equations recently passed 100,000 subscribers and seven million views.

He started it in 2012 to ensure a student who had cancer did not miss out on learning the subject.

Mr Woo has continued posting the lessons online and is trying to break down negative stereotypes about maths.

Mr Woo said great work happened in schools everyday that was not recognised so he was humbled to represent teachers across the country.

“Over 1000 people were nominated but I was nominated for doing my job,” he said. “Some devote their life to something unusual or courageous but I enjoy what I do every day.”

Wootube continues to attract students grappling with the subject.

“We recently had the HSC, which resulted in a huge spike in traffic on the page,” Mr Woo said.

“Teachers hundreds of kilometres away are now able to use my material to help her in the classroom, which is incredible.”

Mr Woo has partnered with online company, Mathspace, to categorise videos to match curriculums across the country and plans to align his 3000-plus videos to curriculums across the globe. “I am trying to expand my reach, not just for students but teachers too,” he said. The 16 NSW nominees for the NSW Australian of the Year Awards met with the NSW Governor and his wife, on Monday.