Teacher awarded international fellowship

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A Queensland high school teacher is swapping suburban Brisbane for New York City after winning the 2014 Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Fellowship valued at $19,000.

Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Art Minister Ian Walker congratulated Kelvin Grove State College teacher, Terry Deen, who would soon be heading off to one of the world’s most renowned design education departments at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

“This is a great opportunity for one of our brightest teachers to gain invaluable experience in delivering quality design education,” Mr Walker said.

“If we want Queensland students to get the best education, then we need teachers such as Terry to learn from the best and bring that knowledge back to Queensland classrooms.

“This delivers on a key commitment at the last election to improve frontline services for families, and supporting outstanding teachers to reach their potential means students will get the best.

“The contribution this fellowship makes to the state is highlighted by the community design projects that students of previous fellows have completed.

“They played a vital role in the Living City project where students presented responses to the Brisbane City Centre Master Plan in Brisbane’s King George Square, and the Sit-Art project where students produced 60 redesigned chairs for the Myer Centre eatery in Brisbane’s CBD.

“Great teachers inspire students with their own love for their subjects and Terry is obviously in these ranks.”

Mr Deen said he recognised the opportunity this fellowship provided for the growth of Queensland’s science, educational and cultural capabilities.

“I’m proud to be named this year’s recipient of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Fellowship which will give me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and provide leadership in design education by partnering with the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York,” Mr Deen said.

“The $19,000 awarded by the Queensland Government will make a real difference to improving my capacity to provide innovative learning experiences in the areas of technology and design, science, IT and engineering.”

In 2013-14, funding up to $30,000 was made available by the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to develop and maintain key strategic alliances through science and innovation.