Top teacher Liz is a class act

A FORMER Flinders Island farm girl has made good as a Campbell Town school teacher – a journey that Liz Webber looks back on with no regrets.

Recognised by the Education Department recently at its Children and Young People Bright Futures staff awards, she was one of three recipients of the Early-Career Teacher of the Year.

Liz has been teaching at Campbell Town District High School for the past three years, after making the bold decision to enrol in an Education Degree at the University of Tasmania in 2018.

School principal David Bryant said that the entire school community was excited and proud to learn of Ms Webber’s recognition.

“She’s an outstanding educator and her practice has resulted in remarkable student growth,” he said.

“This award confirms what we already knew – that country schools are full of high-quality educators who are deeply committed to their community and their students and families.”

Having spent more than 20 years as a teacher’s aide at the school, it was familiar territory but a foreign role when Liz finally took the lead in the classroom.

“I boarded at Parkside in Launceston when I went to college alongside other students from the Midlands and instead of flying home every school holidays I’d go back to my friends’ homes in the Campbell Town area,” she said.

“I ended up staying and I became a teacher’s aide because it fitted in well with my own children’s school hours, and I grew to love the work and the people I worked with.”

One of those colleagues now is her own daughter, Ashlee Beau, the school’s physical education teacher.

Liz graduated from university two years after Ashlee and she has two grandchildren in grade 2 and 3.

Liz is also president of the Campbell Town Football Club and she’s also playing netball this season with Midlands Magic, in an effort to boost its first ever senior team.

It’s the connection to community and contributing something positive that motivates Liz.

“Teaching is something I love doing so I really don’t think about things like awards – but it’s nice to be recognised,” Liz said.

“I love working with the kids from the local community and knowing the families – this has always been where I’ve worked and I like learning from the amazing teachers here – the whole school is great.”

School Association chair Lauren Klomp said that Liz’s natural ability to connect with students has made her incredibly popular and valued from both students and colleages.

“We are thrilled to see her recognised this way,” Lauren said.