Schools
10 December, 2022
NOVA’s teacher of the year goes to Mr Firth
STEM teacher David Firth from Burpengary State School has taken out NOVA 106.9’s Teacher of the Year, after being one of 300 teachers from across Brisbane to be nominated.
Mr Firth, who has been teaching for over nine years, received the crystal ‘Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill Teacher of the Year 2022’ award, a $500 gift voucher, a year’s subscription to Teach Starter, as well as an official teacher of the stamp after having received the greatest number of votes from students and parents.
Mr Firth teaches STEM and digital tech subjects to students from prep to year six, incorporating the use of drones, robotics, 3D printers, green screens and Minecraft.
He said it was a “big shock” when he received the news that he had won on Wednesday November 30.
“It was very humbling,” he said.
“Teaching is not a profession where we expect to get rewarded for our efforts.
“All the other teachers were just as deserving.”
Of the 300 teachers across Brisbane who had been nominated, Mr Firth was just one of four to be shortlisted.
The other three finalised included Mrs Lucas from St Sebastian’s in Yeronga, Miss Tully from St Bernadine’s Regents Park and Mr Miller from Toowong State School.
Mr Firth said the best thing was hearing the kids on the radio praising him for his teaching and the fun and engaging learning environment he generates.
“I’ll always remember that,” he said.
After being inspired by his year 5 teacher, Mr Firth always knew he wanted to be a teacher.
“Mr Cunningham had the biggest influence on me.
“I really connected with him,” he said.
Mr Firth said teaching has given him so much, but two major rewards – being able to travel and his wife!
Mr Firth met his wife at a prep interview and said there is no way he would have won teacher of the year without her.
He plans on using the money he won to take her out for a nice dinner in the city because he said the award is just as much hers and it his.
With his warm and energised personality, Mr Firth spoke about some of projects and clubs he runs with students including using paper chains and lego to experiment with physics, using 3D printers to create life-size dinosaur teeth and green screens to produce advertisements.
“They’re the fun subjects,” he said.
“We do a lot of work but we have a lot of fun doing it.”
Mr Firth encourages students to think about how else technology can be used besides playing games and will often build off knowledge learnt in previous lessons to immerse students in real-world applications of STEM and digital technologies.
After running a Minecraft and robotics club this year, Mr Firth is also excited to be running an esports program at Burpengary State School next year.
“The kids are very excited about that,” he said.
He said that his all-time favourite thing about teaching is the kids.
“I love watching them learn and pick up things and then get excited.
“And seeing smiles.”
