Gordon Education Centre’s Ashleigh Calleja (pictured) has won the Inclusive Teacher of the Year (Disability) award at the 2022 Public Education Awards.

The awards showcase the significant contribution made by people working across the public education system in South Australia and were presented at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Ms Calleja is a special education teacher who works with a variety of students with a range of abilities who require varying levels of support.

Ms Calleja currently teaches a complex communications class, where students range from having physical disabilities where they are using yes/no eye movements.

She has an exceptional rapport with her students, which means they are highly engaged and make steady progress in all areas of their development.

Ms Calleja frequently researches different approaches, maintaining a constant focus on student well-being and dignity, to ensure every student can participate in their learning to the best of their ability.

She regularly shares her learning and often mentors other staff.

Ms Calleja’s advocacy for her students goes above and beyond the classroom, as she reached out to children’s music group, ‘Teeny Tiny Stevies’, with ideas for songs to include children with a disability.

The group now has a song called ‘Abilities’ which touches on children learning in different ways and features children with autism, deafness, vision impairment and those who use wheelchairs.

Ms Calleja uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices to empower student voice and create a learning environment where students’ feelings and ideas are always acknowledged, and they feel respected and heard.