Former Grant High School teacher Michael Bakker was the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal for his outstanding service to secondary education.

Mr Bakker said he was in shock when he found out he was receiving the OAM and said former student Ali Flett was the driving force behind the nomination.

“It’s still pretty overwhelming,” he said.

“I never thought I was, nor did I ever set out to do anything special as a teacher, I was just doing my job.”

For the first five years his career, Mr Bakker taught a range of subjects in schools in Adelaide including drama, music and media studies along with a few years working in special education.

“Judith, my wife, and I then moved to the South East as part of my four-year country service, something we all had to do in the 1980s,” Mr Bakker said.

“It was when I got to Grant High School that I found my way as a teacher, not so much by design, but by discovery.

“I became part of a wonderful arts faculty which included a thriving drama department.

“Following in David Reed’s footsteps was a great challenge and forced me to ‘lift my game’, so to speak.

“It was there I met Garry Costello whose wisdom and influence was with me every time I stepped into a classroom.”

Over a longstanding career spanning almost three decades at Grant High School, Mr Bakker taught a variety of subjects.

These ranged from drama and music to woodwork and metalwork in tech studies, media arts and, more recently, research project.

“I spent 28 years at Grant, I was hoping to make 30 years, but circumstances dictated otherwise,” he said.

“I spent a number of years in the Flexible Learning Centre, which was a challenge at times, but we had significant wins with a lot of young people who would have otherwise ‘fallen through the cracks’.

“I have worked with some amazing teachers and, more importantly, been able to share in the journeys of so many incredible young people.”

Mr Bakker said due to being someone who hated school as a child and dropped out to work in a car yard, he knew what it was like to be disengaged.

“Consequently, positive relationships with students became a natural focus,” he said.

“I have always held the belief, given the support, space and time, that young people can achieve extraordinary things, often beyond their expectations.

“This sometimes requires more time than is available in a standard school day.

“After hours, weekends, school holidays, I did whatever it took, perhaps to the point of obsession.”

Mr Bakker said there were many highlights throughout his years teaching, including successful Year 12 results, performing arts productions, and seeing students move on to fulfilling careers.

“Working with Scott Maxwell on writing original school musicals was by far the most creative period in my career, I really miss that energy,” he said.

“That said, seeing the smile on a student’s face when they learn their first guitar chord or supporting a young person who’s struggling with school achieve some success are the main highlights.”

Mr Bakker acknowledged the amazing support he received from his wife, also a passionate arts teacher, throughout his career.

“She had to put up with me never being home, and with two children of our own, things were pretty tough on the family at times,” he said.

“I had a wonderful career, but it came at a cost.

“I do not think I have ever thanked her enough.”