Here I am with Paul Martin receiving a gong: The Professional Teacher’s Council Outstanding Professional Service Award

Jim is recognised for his significant and continuous contribution in supporting Science teachers and science education in NSW through the Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales (STANSW), as a committee member 2009–2015, Secretary 2012–2014, and as Treasurer in 2015. Jim has freely given his time as a conference convenor and workshop presenter for STANSW to share his expertise in the areas of literacy, assessment and ICT for science teachers across NSW for many years. Keen to reach out to science teachers in non-metropolitan regions he pioneered online on-demand delivery of BOSTES accredited courses. His first course, Towards a Critical Literacy in the Science Classroom has had over 300 participants who have taken advantage of the versatile online platform. Since then he has produced a number of other successful courses which explore the relationship between assessment and teaching and learning. Jim’s practice is to develop each online course using material from face to face delivery. His courses incorporate forums and peer reviewing to engage participants. His latest online project captures the thoughts of 15 HSC experts as they each present the nuances of a HSC question and sample responses. These have been warmly received by busy suburban as well as non-metropolitan teachers to access quality professional learning. He continues to create new online courses. 

Jim has been a head teacher in two schools but has also worked with DoE State Office on various projects such as English Language and Literacy Assessment (ELLA), Computer Skills Assessment Year 6 (CSA6), Secondary Numeracy Assessment Program (SNAP) the Essential Secondary Science Assessment (ESSA) and lately preparing the SMART report of NAPLAN. In each of these programs Jim has directed the teacher professional learning that it has generated. Jim has made a positive contribution to the education of students and raised the profile of Science, Assessment, and subject specific literacy and integrated ICT through his work with teachers in New South Wales schools and is a worthy recipient of the Professional Teacher’s Council Outstanding Professional Service Award.