The Victorian Government has appointed Don Paproth as the new chair of the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

 

Mr Paproth brings 43 years of education experience after working as a teacher, principal, deputy regional director and most recently director of major projects in the Gippsland Region with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

 

Mr Paproth replaces inaugural chair Susan Haliday, who held the position since the institute’s inception in 2002.

 

During Ms Halliday's time as chair, VIT has worked with the profession to develop an internationally recognised Code of Ethics and Conduct for Victorian teachers, professional standards for teachers and a program of mentoring and support for teachers as they enter the profession.

 

Following the appointment of five council members, the election of six council members, and one ex officio member, the new VIT Council Members are:

  • Don Paproth – Chair
  • Professor Stephen Dinham – nomination from the Victorian Council of Deans of Education (person from a tertiary institution which prepares people to be teachers)
  • Gail McHardy – nomination by an organisation representing parents of school students
  • Judy Petch – nominee of the Secretary of Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
  • Debra Punton – nomination of an organisation representing non-government schools employing teachers
  • Anne Sarros – nomination of an organisation representing non-government schools
  • Michael Butler – elected by teachers currently teaching in a government school
  • Louise Heggen – elected by teachers currently teaching in a government school for students with disabilities or impairments
  • Ian Johnston – elected by teachers currently teaching in a non-government school
  • Allen McAuliffe – elected by teachers currently teaching in a government school
  • Mary-Anne Pontikis – elected by teachers currently teaching in a government school
  • Leonie Sheehy – elected by teachers currently teaching in non-government school under the auspice of the Catholic Education Commission

 

The Victorian Institute of Teaching is Australia's largest teacher regulatory authority, registering more than 116,000 teachers working in Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools.