“A loyal advocate of the Queensland Mathematics teaching community,” is how Suella Lye’s colleagues describe her contributions to teaching within the Central Queensland area.

Since graduating in 2001, Suella has been committed to teaching, drawing on her professional knowledge, practical experience, and leadership skills to support her colleagues and the learning needs of her students at Glenmore State High School (GSHS).

Suella currently holds the role of Head of the Maths department and student leader co-ordinator at GSHS. She is also actively involved in QCAA General Maths roles as a Lead endorser, Lead confirmer, and Lead external marker. Though these are just some of the hats that Suella wears, as she is also the elected President of the Capricornia branch of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) as well as the current President of the GSHS P&C and Captain of the school’s Relay for Life team.

The founding organiser of the Satellite State Conference for Capricornia, Suella liaises with QAMT to bring face-to-face professional development to Central Queensland Mathematics teachers. The enlistment of guest speakers and forging strong links with academic communities has seen the conference grow to attract presenters from throughout the region.

In her mission to support her colleagues no matter where they are geographically, Suella secured funding for teachers in remote and isolated areas to attend the conference. She also visited schools in rural and remote Queensland to deliver valuable PD for teachers in the region. This exemplifies her passion for supporting, establishing and maintaining connections with her fellow teachers, regardless of distance.

New and out of field teachers are also benefitting from Suella’s expertise and guidance as she organises and runs the ‘New, pre-service, returning and out of field teachers’ community of practice’ evening in Rockhampton for the teachers of Capricornia. This allows the region’s early career teachers and those new to teaching mathematics to meet with experienced teachers and share ideas and strategies to enhance their own practices.