Toowoomba’s top five teachers of the year

For Toowoomba’s teacher of the year, being a role model is the most defining feature of a teacher, along with relationship building and simply showing your students you care. Meet the top five teachers here:

Toowoomba's top teachers 2024

Teachers are the lifeblood of our education system, and they set the example as role models, building confidence and educating the young minds of the future.

As another academic year draws to close, more than 60 teachers from more than 20 schools across the Toowoomba region were nominated to take the title for Teacher of the Year.

Meet the top 5 teachers of the year as voted by our subscribers:

Aidan Watterson (St Mary’s College Toowoomba)

Aidan Watterson of St Mary's College Toowoomba has been named Teacher of the Year 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler

“If you show them you care, even when you have a bad day, you’ll find that it’ll come back to you,” St Mary’s College senior PE teacher Aidan Watterson said.

A coach, a cricket player and a teacher at the all-boys school, Mr Watterson said having good role models throughout his own schooling, and how they helped him, even through tough and troubling times, was what made him want to be a teacher.

“I thought maybe I could be that person and do that for others,” he said.

“I love boys education and being able to be active and give that to the kids each day is the best thing about being a teacher.”

St Mary's College Principal Brendan Stewart with 2024 teacher of the year Aidan Watterson. Picture: Christine Schindler

College principal Brendan Stewart said he was “very proud” of Mr Watterson for winning teacher of the year and all he does for the boys and their families in and out of the classroom.

“Boys are role seeking missiles, especially at this age,” he said.

“Having a positive role model at the college like Aidan makes our style of teaching in a boy friendly way even more effective.”

Aidan Watterson won teacher of the year with 10 per cent of the votes.

Bethany Graham (Toowoomba Anglican School)

Bethany Graham from Toowoomba Anglican School has been voted second in Toowoomba's teacher of the year.

Toowoomba Anglican School primary teacher Bethany Graham said coming in the top 5 teachers of the year has left her on a “high note” knowing that someone has nominated her and then more people have voted for her.

The year 3 teacher has been teaching for a couple of decades now, and moved all the way from England to Australia in 2006, before finding a home at TAS a year later in 2007.

She said the most important part of teaching for her is “helping the students build confidence and find their strengths in a supportive and caring environment”.

“I always look for the best in every child and guide them to become the best versions of themselves,” she said.

One of her student’s parents, who wished to remain anonymous, described her in an email to the Chronicle, as a “bucket filler”.

“The environment she creates in her classroom has enabled our children to not only learn but thrive,” they said.

“She invests in each and every student and is helping to shape this next generation of students to be ‘bucket fillers’, much like herself.”

Bethany Graham took out the second place with 7 per cent of votes.

Jai Dwyer (Toowoomba Anglican School)

Jai Dwyer from Toowoomba Anglican School has been nominated as Toowoomba's teacher of the year.

Another Toowoomba Anglican School Teacher followed closely behind her colleague with 6 per cent of the votes.

Ms Dwyer was described by one parent who nominated her as an amazing, caring and patient teacher who truly goes above and beyond for her students.

Paul Baker (Concordia Lutheran College)

Concordia Lutheran College teacher Paul Baker has been named as one of Toowoomba’s top five teachers of the year. Picture: Supplied

Junior school teacher Paul Baker came in fourth place with 4 per cent of the votes, and only one vote ahead of Sarah Malone.

The Year 6 teacher at Concordia Lutheran College said his classes are known to be an “institution at the school” with kids coming home comparing his classes to past years when their older siblings were in the grade.

Making mistakes is part of learning, not taking yourself too seriously and creating a culture in the classroom - however quirky that might be, are a few lessons he has learned in his 25 years of teaching.

One quirky, scam-like tradition of his classroom is that he gets each student to bring him a gift on their birthday.

“While some parents might see it as a bit odd, the kids get a real kick out of it,” he said.

One student, whose dad was well-known for being obsessed with his lawn, brought me a single blade of grass from it, he said.

“I laughed, she laughed, the whole class laughed,” he said.

Creating shared memories like this with a class of students was one of the reasons he still remains a teacher to this day.

Sarah Malone (St Monica’s Oakey)

St Monica's Oakey primary school teacher Sarah Malone has been voted as one of the top five teachers of the year in Toowoomba. Picture: Supplied

Primary schoolteacher Sarah Malone said she wanted to be a teacher for “as long as she can remember”.

She even used to take worksheets home and teach her little sister in the holidays.

Learning and collaborating is important for Ms Malone, and she said she focuses on the “small interactions that leave a lasting impact on a student’s life”.

Creating connections, having a positive impact on the students, and helping them overcome challenges and discover their potential was what Ms Malone said was important about teaching.

“No two students are ever the same and every day is different,” she said.

She described being a teacher as a privilege, and was incredibly humbled and grateful for the support of her colleagues, families, students and own family.

“It is a celebration of the work I love to do and the meaningful connections I get to make everyday,” she said.

Sarah Malone received 4 per cent of the votes, and was only one vote behind Paul Baker.

See all the results here: