May Christiansen is the current Head of Department of English at Palm Beach Currumbin High School. She is one of the longest-serving faculty leaders for English on the Gold Coast, showcasing enduring leadership qualities. May has shown exemplary dedication to her students, the schools she has worked at, her colleagues and the art of teaching English during her career, with over four decades of service to the South Coast region. May started her teaching career in 1977 and has taught at Bundaberg State High School, Southport State High School, Cairns district schools, Merrimac and Palm Beach Currumbin State High Schools and she was an inaugural staff member of Nerang State High, May's commitment to the benefits of social moderation for improving English teachers’ knowledge and skills and thereby increasing student outcomes, is inspiring. As a Panel Member for the Queensland Studies Authority and as a QCCA, Endorser and Confirmer she has played a pivotal role in shaping English teaching in Queensland. In addition, she continually encourages her own staff and English teachers from other schools to participate in ETAQ, QCAA and State Education events, fostering continuous learning. May's career has been hallmarked by her facilitation of Inter-school engagement on the Gold Coast. She has established weekly professional learning groups to support teachers from State Education, Catholic Education, and the independent sector to address curriculum challenges and support syllabus implementation over the past two decades, including the implementation of the QSA English Extension syllabus, the QSA English syllabus 2010, and the implementation of the General English and General Literature syllabus 2019. Her inter school dedication extended to supporting students’ academic endeavours. For instance, she organized weekly visits for Extension English students to attend other Gold Coast State and Private schools so they could access the new curriculum. May has nurtured countless staff members in their development as English teachers and enabled many to progress into Head of Department and other leadership roles.
May does all this with humility and grace, making her a worthy recipient of the Peter Botsman Award.
