Tamworth teacher awarded Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship

Tamworth schoolteacher, Jessica Burg, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship.

Jessica began her teaching career in January 2021 and is teaching Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) at Oxley High in Tamworth.

As well as working full time, Jessica is currently completing a course in Transformational Leadership in Education at the University of Newcastle. She plans to use the Teachers Health Scholarship to move on to studying a Master of Leadership and Management in Education, which commences this July at the University of Newcastle.

Jessica had an early taste of where her career was heading when she was embedded in the HSIE Department at Hunter River High at Raymond Terrace as a teaching cadet during her initial teaching degree.

“I gained a valuable insight into the operation of a school and the daily demands placed on teachers. This is where I learnt the most important aspect of the teaching profession, preparing for the rigours of teaching, particularly in the first year and that was the value of having good mentors and leaders within the school and not being afraid to ask for help,” she said.

Once appointed to Oxley High, she took up the role of Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Co-ordinator in her first year of teaching and has now taken on the additional role of Digital Classroom Officer.

“By allowing me to complete my Masters of Leadership and Management in Education and undertake further studies in effectively managing people and projects, I will be provided with the tools to confidently assume a higher leadership position within a school,” Ms Burg said.

The Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship supports public school teachers who are in the first three years of their teaching career, with Teachers Health providing $10,000 for professional development activities.

“We are pleased to support Jess as she starts the next exciting chapter of her career and learning. Our continued partnership with the Public Education Foundation enables us to provide this vital support to the teaching community as well as empower great educators early in their careers to follow their passion for education,” said Teachers Health Group CEO Brad Joyce.

"The Public Education Foundation are excited to have partnered with Teachers Health to offer this scholarship. It is wonderful to read of Jessica’s passion to develop her skills even further at the University of Newcastle, enabling her to critically analyse complex educational issues and provide leadership for professional practices in a variety of settings,” said Paul Somers, COO of the Public Education Foundation.