Devoted Bunbury science teacher nominated for Premier’s STEM educator of the year award

A high school science teacher who has devoted almost four decades to educating the next generation is up for an award. Bunbury Catholic College’s long-term science teacher Annabel Kanakis has been recognised as a finalist in the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. She will compete in the STEM educator of the year secondary category after 39 years teaching science. “I am very proud to be a finalist as it represents recognition and acknowledgement at a community level of the 39 years I have spent devoting my life to science education,” she said. “Personally, it provides further inspiration to continue my vocation as an educator to inspire young people to achieve to their potential and to become motivated to study and pursue a career in STEM. “Professionally, it represents value for what I do and have accomplished with my students, and also provides encouragement for other teachers to further their interest in STEM education.” Ms Kanakis said she had developed her passion for providing science, technology, engineering and maths-based opportunities for students at BCC and had taught in various roles at the college for 18 years. “I have also been involved in developing courses for teaching STEM and senior science to pre-service teachers at Curtin University,” she said. “I have been a member of the Science Teachers Association for 38 years, being the president between 2022 and 2023. “I have volunteered many hours presenting workshops at conferences locally, nationally and internationally, and have written many resources for human biology.” Ms Kanakis is also the co-convenor of the National Science Teachers Conference, set to be held in Perth next year. “I have spent a lot of time providing professional learning to teachers in several schools in the South West, with a focus on those schools with minimal resources,” she said. “Much of my work is completed during holiday time and on weekends to enable me to present workshops and attend conferences to gain a better understanding of STEM and enhance my teaching skills, and financial support is hard to come by.” Ms Kanakis said some of the biggest highlights of her career included presenting an event for girls called STEMMXX Sisters and receiving a de Laeter Medal in 2023 for excellence in science teaching and promoting science in the community. “This has enabled me to demonstrate my passion for students to be able to achieve their dreams despite quite often being told they can’t because they are female,” she said. “The key highlights, though, are seeing my students succeed and become wonderful adults, most of them pursuing careers in STEM and absolutely loving what they do, and staying in touch to let me know what they are doing.” Ms Kanakis is one of 34 finalists announced for the award, and said her goal was continuing her work to encourage as many students as possible to do their best and be aware of all of the opportunities available to them. Finalists will have a chance to share in a prize pool worth $120,000. Winners of the 23rd annual Premier’s Science Awards will be announced at a ceremony on August 19.