Cheryl Capra

During 41 years with Education Queensland, Cheryl has worked in both primary and secondary schools. She has taken leadership roles at both Regional and Central Offices and has written curriculum materials for English, German, Maths and Science. A variety of other roles on behalf of the department included liaison with other jurisdictions, Premier's Department and the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1997, Cheryl returned to the classroom prior to her then planned retirement in 2000. She felt her career should finish with her doing the work she loves most-teaching children. She did not retire in 2000 and since 1998 has enjoyed teaching Year 7 at Albany Hills State School as well as assuming the role of science coordinator for the school, which included a school-wide science renewal project.
Recent achievements

2000: National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA), for Queensland
2002: attended and contributed to Queensland Science Summit
2003: Albany Hills won National Award for Quality Schooling in Science, Maths and Technology for the Community of Science Learning Project, planned and led by Cheryl from1999
2004: Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Cheryl's research entitled, Touching the Future: Children learning to think critically through doing science
2005: 5 May, Albany Hills' Astronomy Club students questioned astronaut Dr John Phillips in a live link with the International Space Station (ISS) from the school's auditorium; event being webcast to the world
2007: Peter Doherty Award for excellence in Science Teaching (August); September, Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.
Cheryl is currently Queensland's nominee for the 2008 BHP Billiton Science Awards.