Genazzano Educator, Grace Hattingh wins ‘Rising Star’ Award

Miss Grace Hattingh, Educator at Genazzano FCJ College, has been recognised for her outstanding commitment to delivering engaging programs to English as an Additional Language (EAL) students with a Rising Star Award from The Educator.

Released today, The Educator’s Rising Stars list recognises professionals, aged 35 or under and working in the K-12 education space, who are able to demonstrate effective leadership, innovation, and achievement in their career to date.

Grace was nominated for her comprehensive, future-focused and engaging EAL programs which encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning.

Grace’s colleagues describe her as not only an English and EAL teacher, but as an integral staff member who has engaged with all areas of the curriculum to ensure her students with EAL requirements are supported throughout their learning at Genazzano.

This is backed up by the ongoing strong VCE results of Grace’s students’ following various initiatives she has introduced since joining the College in 2019. Acknowledging diversity and promoting inclusion are cornerstones of her teaching and learning programs – a key feature of the Genazzano learning community.

Grace has extended learning beyond the classroom to create a broad group and meeting place called ‘GenGlobal’, where students meet as part of the Co-curricular Program to discuss intercultural understandings, diverse perspectives and what it means to be a global citizen.

In 2020, Grace conducted an action research project with a Year 11 EAL and English composite class. Here she identified a disparity in writing skills and the challenge to teach English content to such diverse learners.

Through the use of flipped classroom techniques, she produced videos for students to watch for homework and the results were astounding. Her students were eager to share their new ideas while consolidating their content knowledge. Grace’s work was published, and she generously shared her findings with staff and the wider community.

Principal at Genazzano FCJ College, Mrs Loretta Wholley congratulated Grace on her Rising Star Award.

“What a wonderful achievement this is Grace. You have shown you a true lifelong learner and an outstanding role model for our students at Gen, you should be very proud”.

A true leader, Grace volunteers her time to support students with both EAL and literacy learning needs through the College Learning Enhancement Department. To build resilience, she encourages EAL students to participate in speech competitions and drama productions and works with them backstage to practice their lines, pronunciation and build their confidence to perform.

Humbled by the Award, Grace shares what she loves most about being a teacher and why it is so rewarding.

“I feel very blessed and honoured to receive this award, and am grateful to Genazzano for the nomination”, she said.

“Genazzano has allowed me to be creative in my teaching and offered opportunities to work alongside students to support the realisation of their capabilities. The core motivation for myself as a teacher is for my students to believe in themselves”.

The Educator Magazine works with some of the world’s most high profile business schools and leverages off Key Media’s global footprint to talk to the leading education executives from around the globe. Every issue contains aspirational cover stories and high-level case studies on education leadership and management best practice.

Genazzano FCJ College is a Catholic Day and Boarding School in Kew offering a co-educational Early Learning Centre and all-girls’ environment from Prep to Year 12. It offers students a rounded education that prepares them to become resilient, adaptable and confident women.