1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: That a Catherine High School teacher has been recognized with 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: the national award, up against five hundred other nominees. Assistant 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Principal Connor Fennel received the Commonwealth Banks Training Award for 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: his efforts in improving the behavior and performance of students. 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: And he joins me on the line right now. Good 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: morning to you, Connor. 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. How are you doing. 8 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: I'm very well mate. How are you feeling? A big 9 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: congratulations to you. 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Yeah. Look, it's a real honor 11 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: and a real privilege obviously to be recognized for my 12 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: role in the work that we did here in Catherine 13 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: High And it's been a big week of celebrations here 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: in the high school and in the community just for 15 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: us to be recognized on a national scale for some 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: of the work that we've done here. 17 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, how is the whole school feeling? Because I'm sure 18 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: that for you, it is a real team effort. 19 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: Oh one. You know, this stuff doesn't happen unless wes 20 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: that collective buy in and you know, all our staff, 21 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: our students and ultimately being in Casther in a small town, 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: ultimately our community getting involved as well. So you know, 23 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: there's been being a big transition in the last couple 24 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 2: of years. You know, we've we've had some opportunities present 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: where we could actually look at starting to acknowledge our 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: young people for the positive behavior that they are demonstrating. 27 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: And we've had more opportunities for collaboration, which means then 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 2: that we can talk amongst our staff and we can 29 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: have those conversations that ultimately supports us to learn and 30 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: teach in Catherine High. 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: And what kind of changes in have you saying, I 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: guess as a result of all of that within the school. 33 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, So some of the main changes are obviously we've 34 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: implemented their positive behavior and school processes, which means we've 35 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: now recognized students or have been recognized in students for 36 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: the positive behavior they've been demonstrating. And that has a 37 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: ripple effect, Katie. So we go from you know, telling 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: students who are doing the right thing, building those positive 39 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: relationships with them, and then being able to reward them 40 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: for those positive behaviors, and we've seen a massive increase 41 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: in those behaviors that those positive behaviors across the school. 42 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: The other thing, too, is their collaborations. So we've set 43 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: up some observation rounds and some opportunities for teachers to 44 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: actually collaborate and the school Swedish other and we've seen 45 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: an exponential increase in teachers who are engaging with those 46 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: observations and then just the feedback in terms of the 47 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: qualitative conversations that are being had around you know, how 48 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: people are feeling in the space as has been really 49 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: positive and that anecdotal evidence is certainly given us, you know, 50 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: a great feel and a good bousing, cutter and high. 51 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, we know like school is, it 52 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: can be a frightening or not a frightening place, but 53 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: it can be a daunting place for some kids if 54 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: you know, if you don't have that really positive sort 55 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: of outlook, and if you don't have teaching staff and 56 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: you know, leaders within the school that help to really 57 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: sort of have that positive outlook on the school. So 58 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: it sounds like you've made quite a few changes to 59 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: create that feeling for your students. 60 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think that's what our aim was, 61 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 2: you know, is that we wanted school to be a 62 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: safe space. We wanted students to be able to come 63 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: in and learn, and ultimately we also wanted our teachers 64 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: to be able to come in and teach. So by 65 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: putting in some of those processes and those practices, and like, 66 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 2: I'm looking at the complexities and the challenges that are 67 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: presented and then looking at them as opportunities for us 68 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 2: to develop and do the job that we all decided 69 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: to do all those years ago. You know. I know 70 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: for myself, I became a teacher because I wanted to 71 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: help and I wanted young people to learn. And I 72 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: think that goes for all teachers, is that that's what 73 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: their aim is. So if we can put in place 74 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: some support structures to do that, which we have, I 75 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: think the benefit of that is exponential, and particularly for 76 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,119 Speaker 2: a smaller town like Catherine two, where you know, these 77 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: young people are ultimately the next generation of people living 78 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: in Catherine and maybe even the next generation of school 79 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: leaders as well, who knows. 80 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's so true. And I just think that the 81 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: positive impact that teachers can have on school students, you know, 82 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: you just don't realize how wonderful it is until you've 83 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: got it. 84 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think recognizing that too, which is amazing 85 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: that you know, we do have these supports such as 86 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: this award, the Skills Plutson Combank Teaching award, which is 87 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: now going to provide some more additional funding to Catherine 88 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: High School for a strategic project this year which we'll 89 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: actually look at our leadership structure and developing our leadership 90 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: pipeline so that all the good work and all the 91 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: great stuff that's happening here on the ground can then 92 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: be sustained going forward as well. 93 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: So talk us so exactly how that's going to work, 94 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: because I know it was that forty was it forty 95 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: thousand dollars that you guys received as part of that award. 96 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, in total it's forty thousand, so I think it's 97 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: tied up. Around ten is tied up in my own 98 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: professional development and we do a study tour and we 99 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: have some coaching as well, that's part of that. And 100 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 2: then twenty five thousand is for a strategic project which 101 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 2: I'll roll out next year and high And what we 102 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: have in Cathai is we've got an amazing group of 103 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: teachers and staff and a phenomenal leadership team as well. 104 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: And what I'm looking at is that middle leadership piece 105 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 2: and kind of looking at maybe some of our staff 106 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: members who might be interested in leadership positions maybe being 107 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: supported to develop their capacities in that area, and then 108 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 2: our current leadership team as well, looking at how do 109 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: we develop even more capacity there so that when you know, 110 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 2: when we do step away eventually down the line, not 111 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: just yet, but down the line, that there will be 112 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: a kind of a base or a strategy for the pipeline. 113 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 2: Is the word I'm looking for to support the school 114 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: to continue on with that great work that's been done 115 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: over the last couple of years. 116 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, I know that you did tell Channel nine 117 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: as I understand it, that the school is quite different 118 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: now than what it was just a few years ago. 119 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: What do you reckon Why is that? Why have things changed? 120 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: I think it's just been that collective expert KD and 121 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 2: the collaboration across our staff. You know, we the Catherine 122 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 2: I have twenty twenty was very very different, was very 123 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 2: different to what it is now. And I think that 124 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: kind of comes back to all of us coming together 125 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 2: and saying, you know, ultimately, we want our students to learn, 126 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: and we want to be able to do or do teaching. 127 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: We want to teach, we want to want to do 128 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 2: what we said we were going to do, and it's 129 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 2: just being that coming together to set out these processes 130 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: such as their positive behavior process, and to actually collaborate 131 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: with each other, being in faculty meetings or through observations, 132 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 2: which has kind of been a bit of a signature 133 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: strategy for us here. And then just you know, we 134 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: were being stretched pretty thin back then, and it's just 135 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: looking at maybe just combining those things and saying, you know, 136 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: do do the job you're being asked to do, which 137 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 2: is teach, and do it as well as you can. 138 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: And I think just having that support from our leadership 139 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: team and from ourself as being great for our teachers 140 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: than ourselves to be able to do that do that work. 141 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, good on you. And like I said, I just 142 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: think that when you've got that strong leadership and good 143 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: leadership within a school, it can make such a huge 144 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: difference not only to the teaching stuff, but also to 145 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: the students in terms of enjoying being at school and 146 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: and it being a safe, happy place for them to 147 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: be and for them to learn. 148 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's that's that's the job, Katie, you know, 149 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 2: And as I said myself, I know that I got 150 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 2: into this to teach, and you're seeing the beauty of 151 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: young people learning. It's just incredible and you know, I 152 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: do need to give a shout out to our staff, 153 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: and it's not just their teachers, but also our administration, 154 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: air atillery staff too, who really just rallied behind this 155 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: work and you know, they've come behind it, but they're 156 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: still behind it. They continue to the work that is 157 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: more certainly still there to be done. And I have 158 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: every faith and every trust in this group of people 159 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: that I work with every day and our students, and 160 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: that will continue to that work and will continue to 161 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: it ultimately for the young people that we have in 162 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: front of us every day. 163 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: Are kind of massive. Congratulations to you, but also to 164 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: the entire school. I'm sure that you are all feeling 165 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: very humbled but very proud, and I'm sure the students 166 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: are pretty tough as well. To have you in the 167 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: school recognized in this way. I've been beating out five 168 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: hundred other nominees. It is absolutely incredible. 169 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you so much, Katie. And it has been 170 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: definitely an honor and a privileged to join to join 171 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: the fellowship. And yet I think there's been a bit 172 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: of a buzz and I've had a couple of comments 173 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: from the students around, you know, congratulations and good on you. 174 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's been a nice little The Bolls this week, 175 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: and thank you again for having me this morning. Katie. 176 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate it, worries it all. Look, I love speaking 177 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: to people who are really passionate about what they do, 178 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: and it sounds to me like you are so passionate 179 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: about what you do. But I also just think it's 180 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: really important that we as a community celebrate when Territorians 181 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: do phenomenal things. And it is really wonderful what you've done, 182 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,719 Speaker 1: so massive congratulations to you. 183 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: Awesome, Thanks again, Katie, thank you