‘Deep thinker’ wins top award

By Elise Snashall-Woodhams
Updated November 7 2012 - 6:14am, first published October 28 2011 - 11:12am
Enthusiastic: Scott Alterator has scored an “A” for classroom effort.
Enthusiastic: Scott Alterator has scored an “A” for classroom effort.

SCOTT Alterator’s huge passion for his students has been rewarded by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.The philosophy teacher and VCAL co-ordinator at Bendigo Senior Secondary College was recognised with a special award as part of World Teachers’ Day celebrations yesterday.VIT gave out the awards to just 10 teachers statewide who were nominated by students, colleagues, parents or community members.More than 100 teachers were nominated.VIT spokesperson Damian Cowell said the teachers chosen to receive the award “were ones that went above and beyond the classroom”.“We felt Scott’s connection to the community was fairly obvious,” he said.In his nomination, done anonymously, Mr Alterator was described as a deep thinker about teaching and learning. “A leader of staff, widely read and knowledgeable, Scott runs the ‘chalk and talk’ website with another staff member, seeking to continually challenge and assist fellow staff members in their day to day practice,” the nomination said.His nominator described Mr Alterator as possessing “a huge depth of insight, respect, enthusiasm, and kindness”.Mr Alterator has been at BSSC for 11 years and said teaching was “good work”.“It’s rewarding, it’s challenging, you might come home tired at the end of the day but you never come home feeling deflated,” he said.He said his main aim as a teacher was building and engaging in community, and he loved the moment when his students realised what their hard work at school was all about.“This time of year is really quite rewarding because it’s when students start getting jobs and work placements,” he said.“When they have a purpose and engage in their future, that’s pretty cool.“We have got some switched on students here and they are going off to be Bendigonians and it’s important they are going off to be the best kind of people they can be.”Mr Alterator will be presented with his award and his prize, an iPad, by the VIT on Tuesday.

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