Brief portraits of Five Award Recipients

Our short paper presents the case studies of five of the 2001 NSW Quality Teaching Award (QTA) recipients, one from each sector. We have not attempted to find 'the best' teacher in each category, but have chosen five people who are both typical of QTA recipients generally and interesting in their individuality. A quest to find the best would go against the spirit of the awards that sought to not to rank and order those involved in the process, but to recognise all who displayed the qualities of an exemplary practitioner. While each of the case studies varies in its detail common themes are nonetheless evident. We searched for parsimonious descriptions of what made each of these professionals, and indeed all award recipients similar to each other, and selected the phrases 'deep humanity' and 'moral leadership'. We could also have added 'pure enjoyment' as award recipients take obvious pleasure in his or her profession. This pleasure is contagious and students and colleagues alike benefit from and share in it.