So many of our public school teachers go ‘above and beyond’ what’s expected of them and Macgregor Primary School teacher Simone Xirakis is just one example of a teacher whose work has made a big impact.
Simone has developed and delivered a personalised AUSLAN program for a neurodivergent student at Macgregor Primary School who was having significant difficulties accessing and connecting with school and the curriculum.
She noticed the student had a passion for signing and set about upgrading her AUSLAN qualifications in her own time. More remarkable was the student was not in her own class, a demonstration of her commitment to all students and their development.
Simone used her new skills to create lesson plans and online learning for the student to compete at their own pace. Simone’s hard work paid off, with the student reconnecting with school and learning.
Simone’s principal, Belinda Andrews, praised her work, saying she had changed the child’s school trajectory and has an ongoing positive impact at Macgregor Primary School.
Congratulations to Simone who received a well-deserved 2022 ACT Children’s Week Student Support award.