Internationally renowned high school mathematics teacher and internet sensation Eddie Woo will deliver this year’s Australia Day Address in New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced.
Mr Woo is a passionate maths teacher who first started posting teaching videos in 2012 to aid a sick student. His YouTube channel, called wootube, now has more than 167,000 subscribers and over 3,500 videos. Additional resources are available on his misterwootube.com site.
The child of migrant parents, Mr Woo is Head Teacher Mathematics at Cherrybrook Technology High School. He was featured on ABC’s Australian Story program last year.
Ms Berejiklian said the teacher’s innovative and dynamic methods have transformed the way students relate to mathematics.
“Through his unique ability to engage with young people, Eddie Woo has helped countless students to overcome a fear of maths and nurture a love of learning,” she said.
In an appearance on ABC News, Mr Woo said the invitation to speak was “an amazing privilege”.
He would address the importance and value of education, he said.
“Working in a school is such a wonderful privilege but it’s also one of the hardest jobs there is,” he told ABC News. “Our culture understands the importance of schools but often doesn’t appreciate the actual work that is happening in the classrooms and with students all around the country.
Mr Woo will deliver the 2018 Australia Day Address at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on 23 January, from 12:30pm.