Reviewers

Principal experience
14 years

Most recent principal position
Elanora State High School, 2012–2021

Other experience
I have held Principal roles in 3 fantastic state schools—Biloela State High School, Keebra Park State High School and Elanora State High School. Other experience includes growth coaching and Chair of the Education Queensland International accreditation reviews.

Areas of interest
I have Principal experience in both rural and metropolitan schools. I have a great interest in developing student and staff global perspectives through involvement in a range of international programs. I am also interested in the implementation of Positive Behaviour for Learning with fidelity and the vast array of school community partnerships which improve student outcomes.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?
I am a strong believer that feedback is the fuel for growth and have found my involvement with School and Region Reviews—initially as a peer reviewer then as a Principal, Reviews—to be extremely rewarding. It is an absolute privilege to work with fellow principals and the School Improvement Tool in helping schools shape their future improvement journey.

Other interests
As a former teacher of Bahasa Indonesia, I have a strong affinity with Indonesia. I am a passionate Australian Football League fan and heavily involved in the sport of swimming with my family.

Principal experience
23 years

Most recent principal position
Coolum State School, 2020–2024

Other experience
I have taught in and supported many schools from small remote schools to urban schools in 3 Australian states. I have experience as a school leader, mentor and coach, as well as a regional advisor supporting student behaviour. I am chair of the school performance sub-committee for the Queensland Association of State School Principals (QASSP).

Areas of interest
I am passionate about building collaborative cultures within schools and the broader community, where intentional work to support students to realise their potential is a priority for all. I believe that open, honest and focused teams will drive school improvement. I am particularly interested in supporting teacher engagement and differentiation where every student is challenged and has the opportunity to grow every day.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?
Having been involved with the work of School and Region Reviews from 2015, I have a firm belief that the review process is integral in providing the right support for schools and their leaders to assist in focusing on the right work to support school improvement.

Other interests
Cycling, travelling and anything involving water.

13 years

Undurba State School, 2016–2020

Over 25 years working in education in many roles including:

• Executive Director, Curriculum, Teaching Leadership Rural and Remote branch
• Regional Director, North Queensland region
• Assistant Regional Director, North Coast region
• Principal at Lawnton State School, Pacific Paradise State School, Undurba State School
• Regional Manager, Behaviour Support Services North Coast region
• Learning Engagement Online Teacher, Regional Behaviour team
• Head of Department of Learning Engagement, Morayfield State High School
• Teacher (maths, biology, physics, health)

Change leadership, capability development, cross-government partnerships, early years, curriculum, engagement, student support, digital innovation in teaching and learning.

It is a huge privilege to work alongside schools on their improvement journey and build my own knowledge and skills at the same time. Being a Senior Principal, Reviews draws on my varied experience in previous roles and provides many opportunities to continue to work systematically and creatively to solve problems and plan strategy and policy with system and school leaders and stakeholders—connecting and collaborating to support improvement journeys, sharing and celebrating successes, and equitably optimising learning and wellbeing outcomes for Queensland students.

• Being active, especially walking in nature and exploring new places
• Spending time with family and friends
• Travel
• Musicals and theatre

13 years

Centenary Heights State High School, 2022–2024

• Capability development
• Pedagogical practices that make a difference to all students

I have been involved in school reviews as a peer reviewer since 2017. The review process makes a difference in schools and is one of many systems responses to support school improvement. I’m very interested in supporting schools and principals to continue to improve on behalf of their school community.

15 years

Logan Village State School, 2019–2023

Over 30 years' working in education in many roles, including:

• Principal, Woongoolba State School
• Deputy Principal, Park Ridge State School
• Principal Education Officer (School Improvement)
• Regional Evidence Hub Coordinator, South East region
• acting principal and acting deputy principal roles
• teacher.
  

• Student engagement
• Developing school leadership
• Building school culture and identity
• Essential skills for classroom management
• Pedagogical coaching
• Personality profiling
  

I have been involved in school reviews as a peer reviewer since 2015 and have always thought the review process to be an outstanding example of improving school strategic development, supporting and documenting school initiatives, as well as providing quality research and direct information to our system regarding schools. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to visit schools and learn from dedicated staff across the state about teaching and learning.

I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, going to the beach and watching movies. I am a fan of both cricket and rugby league, and play jazz piano.

24 years

Wellers Hill State School, 2024

I have 30 years' experience building productive partnerships within school communities through my work as a principal, lead principal and principal advisor. I have engaged in a wide range of educational settings across 3 Australian states including rural, remote and large urban primary and secondary schools.

• Aspiring leader capability
• Rural and remote education
• Small school leader capability
• Student engagement
• Teacher capability

I always valued support and feedback in my leadership journey. To support school teams to develop capability to enhance student and school improvement is both a privilege and a pleasure. I have been a peer reviewer since 2015 and the opportunity to work in School and Region Reviews enables me to support others while building my own capability as a school leader.

• Spending time with family
• Travel
• Sport
• Boating and fishing including volunteering with Marine Rescue Queensland

16 years

Gladstone West State School, 2016–2023

Other experience

I began my teaching career in 1999 at Clinton State School. Following this, I moved to the United Kingdom and taught in London for 6 years. When returning, I started my teaching principal career in 2008 in small schools such as Marlborough State School and Builyan State School. Then various other schools at a variety of levels including Eidsvold State School, Ambrose State School, Calliope State School, Blackwater North State School and then Gladstone West State School.

Some of my career highlights include being one of the first to be involved in the Take the Lead and Experienced Principal pilot programs, as well as completing my Growth Coaching qualification.

Areas of interest

• Creating a positive school culture for teachers to allow students to learn
• Behaviour management and Positive Behaviour for Learning
  
• Building professional teams and empowering middle and emerging leaders
• Inclusion

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

After being a peer reviewer since 2016, I see the value in the school review process. I have always said that school reviews are the best professional development the department can offer. I would encourage all principals to become a peer reviewer. The School Improvement Tool is there to support school improvement with school reviews being a collaborative process undertaken for the school, not of the school.

• Spending quality time with the family
• Fishing and golf
• A fanatical Paramatta Eels supporter

7 years

Redcliffe State High School, 2023–2024

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage with a range of roles over the course of my 30-year career. I have been principal and deputy principal in 3 high schools. My other experiences include working across the state as a Principal Advisor – State Schools Performance and regionally as a Principal Advisor – Curriculum, Teaching and Learning.

I established the Morayfield Teacher Education Centre of Excellence and through this work, engaged as a Queensland state school representative working with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership on elements of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and program delivery of the Queensland Mentoring Beginning Teacher program.

• State schooling generally
• Capability development
• Coaching and mentoring
• Curriculum and pedagogy

Having been a principal of schools that have undertaken a review and also engaged with the process as a peer reviewer for a number of years, I have experienced first-hand the positive impact of the process for the school and community. It has also been valuable for my professional growth and learning as I embrace opportunities to receive feedback. I have observed the positive impact that the outcomes from the review process has had in informing system next steps. It is an exciting space to work in with a group of like-minded colleagues.

8 years

Mitchelton Special School, 2022–2024

I started my career as a classroom and primary physical education teacher. I commenced leadership opportunities in primary and special schools holding both acting and permanent positions of deputy principal and principal. Recently, I have engaged with special school leaders to further develop our own capability to provide further opportunities for students to reach their potential. I have enjoyed strategically positioning the schools I have worked in to embrace a culture of distributed leadership and a commitment to collective decision making.

• Creating a safe and purposeful learning culture that supports the school community
• Behaviour management and Positive Behaviour for Learning
• Developing inclusive approaches to deliver quality outcomes for all students
  
• Establishing processes to provide sustainability, consistency and reliability of state school education
  
• Enacting differentiated models of professional development for all staff

Having been a peer reviewer over the past 2 years—and as a leader—I have found the School Improvement Tool and the school review process to be a supportive process to garner the voice of the school community. Through the 9 domains, it allows schools time to reflect on their school improvement journey—where they have been, where they are at and where to next. As a life-long learner, it allows me to engage and learn about the outstanding practices and achievements that occur within our state schooling system.

10 years

Gympie State High School, 2014–2023

Other experience

I commenced my teaching career at Mareeba State High School in 1990 and have held teaching and leadership positions from head of department to deputy principal and principal in secondary schools across the state. I am a passionate advocate for state education and have particularly focussed on coaching and mentoring teachers and leaders across our system.

Areas of interest

I have a particular focus on student wellbeing, engagement and achievement in the secondary sector.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

After being involved in numerous reviews as a peer reviewer, I have seen first-hand the positive power of the review process on school and individual improvement. The Principal, Reviewer role allows me to give back to our schools through the feedback shaped by the School Improvement Tool.

I enjoy spending time with my family and improving an average golf handicap. I have had a lifelong love of rugby league and in my role as President of Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League, I take pride in supporting a pathway for student engagement in the game.

7 years

Denison State School, 2022–2024

• Principal, Emerald State School
• Principal, Miriam Vale State School (Kindergarten to Year 10)
• Deputy Principal and Head of Department, Emerald State High School
• Teacher, Mundubbera State College
  

• Transitions across the school phases: Kindergarten to Prep, primary to high school and high school to post-school pathways
• Multi-tiered systems of support including Positive Behaviour for Learning
• Inclusion
• Development of leadership teams

After spending all of my teaching career in Central Queensland, I am interested in seeing the great practices around Queensland. The past 7 years as a peer reviewer have been a fantastic experience and valuable to take learnings back to my own school to enhance our approach.

8 years

Glenwood State School, 2019–2022

I began teaching at Granville State School before moving to Parke State School for 8 years as a classroom teacher and school-wide positive behaviour support Internal Coach. I started my principalship in 2015, at Gunalda State School, and then moved to Glenwood State School as principal in 2019.

• Prep transition
• Age appropriate pedagogies
• Student engagement
• Teacher capability
• Aspiring leader capability

As a respectful presence in schools, I appreciate getting to know schools and their stories along with their communities to help improve their students’ outcomes. I enjoy working every day as a ‘partner in learning’ with a team who demonstrates a deep commitment and focus on the achievement of each and every school improving.

• Family
• Travel
• Sport
• Fitness, personal health and wellness
• Renovating (when it goes to plan)

21 years

Beaudesert State High School, 2009–2019

I have held leadership positions in a variety of settings across Queensland, including:

• Deputy Principal of Thursday Island and Noosa District State High Schools
• Principal of Goondiwindi and Beaudesert State High Schools.

I am passionate about quality public education. I have an interest in rural and remote education, and youth disengagement.

I enjoy supporting school teams to improve outcomes for all students. I have had the privilege of reviewing more than 145 schools across Queensland and am in awe of the many amazing leaders, teachers and other staff members who every day give their utmost to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of students.

I am a swimming official in my spare time and am active at local, regional, state, national and international levels. My highlights to date are appointments to the:

• 2022 World Short Course Championships (Melbourne)
• 2019 Pacific Games (Samoa)
• 2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast)
• 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games (The Bahamas).

32 years

Mount Gravatt State School, 2008–2023

Other experience

I began my principalship at a tiny school in north western Queensland and proceeded through 14 years as a teaching principal in several remote and regional schools—very rewarding years. My city-based principal experiences have been remarkably different from my rural roles, providing me with opportunity to consider complexities of communities from other angles.

Areas of interest

• Small schools
• Student engagement for learning through innovation in curriculum delivery
• Student and staff wellbeing and emotional resilience

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

Having been involved regularly as a peer reviewer since 2016, the reflective process that the use of the School Improvement Tool encourages has been transformational for me as a leader. It is such a privilege to work with school communities to celebrate and learn about the outstanding practices and achievements that we have within our state schooling system.

• Family and folk history
• Travel
• Musical theatre

18 years

Heatley State School, 2005–2022

• Secondary art teacher for 7 years in a school on the Gold Coast and then Gladstone
• Secondary deputy principal for 15 years across 2 Townsville schools
• Long-time member and local branch representative with Queensland Secondary Principals Association (QSPA), Queensland Association of State School Principals (QASSP) and Association of Women Educators
  
• Member of Australian Council for Educational Leaders
  
• Principal union representative with Queensland Teachers Union, 2005–2023

I am a long-serving and proud state school educator. In particular, I have sought to enhance my educational leadership for school improvement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students. I have endeavoured to first make a difference within my own practice and schools I have worked in, undertaken further tertiary studies and served on professional educational committees focused on Indigenous education. I am humbled to have been mentored and supported by some incredible Elders and key people, many of whom remain as colleagues and friends. They have helped me to better understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander perspectives and broaden my world view.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

I started as a peer reviewer and saw first-hand the transformative power of appreciative inquiry in school improvement. I cannot emphasise just how beneficial the experience is—to prepare for your own school review, learn about effective practices and foster professional collaboration. I urge principals to take the opportunity to be a peer reviewer—make it part of your Annual Performance Development Plan (APDP) and do a school review at least once a year if not once per semester. Now I am a full-time Principal, Reviews and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. I am supported by a strong collegial team who enable me to conduct reviews in schools across the state, working alongside school leaders as we enact system-wide improvement.

I am in the early stages of grandmother-hood. Swimming and walking are my preferred forms of regular exercise. I love reading, travelling and writing. I have a soft spot for cooking and responsibly sampling fine food and wine.