2008 Awards
Teacher Award
Mrs Julie-Ann Watson
Music Specialist
Nakara Primary School, Nakara, Darwin, NT
NT Music School, Nightcliff, Darwin, NT
Julie-Ann's innovative and inclusive classroom music program at Nakara has produced outstanding results in a relatively short time. She quickly engaged the students and staff, raising the profile of music education at the school, and elevated the status of the whole school in the Darwin community.
Parents have sought admission to the school on the strength of the music program and its beneficial impact on the culture of learning at the school. One effect of this is seen this year in the largest ever cohort of instrumental music students at the middle/high school traditionally attended by ex-Nakara students.
At the start of 2008 Julie-Ann was transferred to the Northern Territory Music School, where she is applying her Nakara classroom teaching experience in an in-servicing and mentoring program for teachers in a number of schools.