Reviewers

Principal experience

18 years

Most recent principal position

Rochedale State School, 2015–2021

Other experience

• Principal, Reviews
• Assistant Regional Director, Metropolitan region
• Principal, Algester State School
• Principal, Chatswood Hills State School
• Head of Middle School, Whites Hill State College
• Deputy Principal, Mabel Park State School
• Chair of Queensland School Sport

Areas of interest

• Public school education
• Developing leadership and growing future school leaders
• International mindedness and global competency
• International Baccalaureate framework

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

I became a reviewer for the opportunity and privilege to assist schools to continue to enhance their school improvement journey. Through my role, I aim to add value to and provide validation of the work of school communities across Queensland towards providing the best possible education for all students.

Other interests

My interests include sport, travel, research and current affairs.

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, supporting Partnership Initiative school communities 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

24 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 including:

• Principal at Currajong State School, Garbutt State School, Stuart State School, Townsville Central State School
• Deputy Principal, Belgian Gardens State School
• regional behaviour support teacher
• Lecturer, Charles Darwin University.

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.

Principal experience

13 years

Most recent principal position

Undurba State School, 2016–2020

Other experience

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).

Areas of interest

Change leadership, capability development, cross-government partnerships, curriculum leadership, engagement, student support and digital innovation.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

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

Principal experience

14 years

Most recent principal position

Centenary Heights State High School, 2022–2024

Other experience

Areas of interest

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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

Principal experience

15 years

Most recent principal position

Logan Village State School, 2019–2023

Other experience

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
• classroom teacher and key teacher (behaviour).

Areas of interest

• Student engagement in primary schools (Doctor of Education)
• Strategic school leadership
• Curriculum and pedagogy
• Building school culture and identity
• Essential skills for classroom management
• Personality profiling

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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 support school leaders and teachers across the state about teaching and learning.

Other interests

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.

Principal experience

8 years

Most recent principal position

Yarrabah State School, 2021–2024

Other experience

I have been within the Queensland state education system for 38 years since I commenced teaching at Inala State School. I love variety, learning and challenge, so have taken on many roles including:

• principal, deputy principal and head of department
• curriculum and literacy coach
• curriculum manager
• mathematics C2C
• lead coach explicit teaching
• principal advisor for school improvement.

Areas of interest

• Indigenous education
• Post schooling pathways
• Alternate learning programs
• Creating engaging cross-disciplinary units of work

My interests within education lie strongly in curriculum and capability development. I have spent many years enhancing my coaching through studies in neuroscience. For most of my career I have worked in either South East or Far North regions where I am a passionate advocate for equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

I have been a peer reviewer for a few years and have learnt much from the review experience. I love to take on new challenges and school reviews provide both learning and challenges, while providing incredible benefits for everyone involved. I feel privileged to have this opportunity and look forward to being able to assist other principals through the process.

Other interests

• Reading
• Tropical plants
• Supporting the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League

Principal experience

24 years

Most recent principal position

Wellers Hill State School, 2024

Other experience

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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

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

Principal experience

7 years

Most recent principal position

Redcliffe State High School, 2023–2024

Other experience

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.

Areas of interest

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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

Principal experience

9 years

Most recent principal position

Mitchelton Special School, 2022–2024

Other experience

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.

Areas of interest

• 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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

Having been a peer reviewer for several 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.

Other interests

Principal experience

7 years

Most recent principal position

Denison State School, 2022–2024

Other experience

• 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
  

Areas of interest

• 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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

Principal experience

8 years

Most recent principal position

Glenwood State School, 2019–2022

Other experience

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.

Areas of interest

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

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

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.

Other interests

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

Principal experience

32 years

Most recent principal position

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 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 diverse communities from other angles.

Areas of interest

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

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.

Other interests

• Family and folk history
• Travel
• Musical theatre

Principal experience

18 years

Most recent principal position

Heatley State School, 2005–2022

Other experience

• Secondary art teacher for 7 years in schools on the Gold Coast and Gladstone
• Secondary deputy principal for 15 years across 2 Townsville schools in the North Queensland region
• 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

Areas of interest

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 Islander 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. Now as a full-time principal, reviews since 2023, I am supported by a strong collegial and committed team. I cannot emphasise just how beneficial the experience is. I urge principals to take the opportunity to be a peer reviewer—make it part of your setting professional goals process and do a school review at least once a year if not once per semester. I also encourage principals and other school leadership team members to undertake review work shadowing experiences.

Other interests

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

Principal experience

14 years

Most recent principal position

Mount Isa Educational Precinct Coordinator, 2024
Principal, Currajong State School, 2021–2023

Other experience

• Lead Principal, North Queensland region
• Principal, Queens Beach State School
• Deputy Principal, Bounty Boulevard State School
• Principal, Cooyar State School
• Principal, Harlin State School

I was proud to lead the Mount Isa Educational Precinct team in 2024 to collaborate with local stakeholders and schools to develop local responses and support students to reach their potential. I have worked in various school and corporate roles across Queensland and have also completed a master’s degree in inclusion.

Areas of interest

• Capability building
• Inclusion
• Student engagement through multi-tiered systems of support
• Neuroscience
• Wellbeing

Why did you want to become a reviewer?

To contribute to Queensland state schools in their continuous improvement journey of developing high standards of expectations and quality education. It offers the opportunity to collaborate, celebrate practices and provide feedback on next steps. I am passionate about supporting schools to deliver equitable and quality education for all students and I value to chance to influence excellence at a systemic level.

Other interests

• Watching any sport and playing golf
• Guitar, vinyl and music enthusiast