As the Queensland Branch we are looking forward to connecting with colleagues from other States and Territories at our upcoming National Conference.
On Tuesday 20th August, our Australian Council for Educational Leaders Queensland Branch (ACELQ), recognised educational leaders who, in the view of their colleagues, have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practices of the teaching profession and educational leadership. Those who have nurtured and developed the lives of students and enriched the profession by learning with colleagues and contributing to their educational leadership.
Please join with us in congratulating our 2024 award recipients. Their actions are those of influence, motivation and enabling others to contribute to the success of our community. Our award recipients are truly representative of the diversity of our profession, with recipients from the state system, Catholic and independent schools, professional associations, university teacher education faculties and supporting organisations.
On behalf of the Queensland Branch Executive, we are thankful for all ACEL Fellows and members together with special guests and family of our recipients who joined with us for this occasion.
Miller-Grassie Award
Mr Andrew Pierpoint
Fellowship Award
Mr John O'Sullivan Williams
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award
Mr David Bliss
Ms Anthony Micallef
Mr James Leach
Mrs Majda Benzenati
Professor Peter Taylor
Inspiring Educator Award
Miss Carynne Robinson
Research in Educational Leadership Award
Dr Marnee Shay
Dr Rhonda Faragher
Emerging Educational Leadership Award
Mrs Jemma Trendler
Mrs Megan Bishop
Indigenous Leadership Award
Mr David Hartley
Pivotal People Award
Mrs Amanda Hart; Mr Christopher Pollock; Mr David Lyon; Mrs Jodie Schafer
Ms Jody Prouse; Ms Melissa Alexander; Dr Terry Byers; Dr Victoria Leighton
Commendation
Mr Tom McCormick
Ms Phyllis Marsh
Media Award
Mr Andrew Dawson
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
Our Events
Our Darling Downs ACEL local convenor group hosted it’s annual ‘ACEL Q and A Forum’ at The Glennie School. “It Takes a Village – ReEngaging Our Youth” was the theme for the forum. We had community panel members sharing their expertise, with a question of “what role do our schools have here”. With diversity on our panel, Terry Bright (Qld Police Force), Mr Trevor Watts (Member for North), Libby Rosentreter (Principal- Good Samaritan College) and Zackary Vains (Social Worker Queensland Health), the attendees were provided with suggestions about how schools and community can avoid working in silos. How can schools, the health system, police, and other community agencies work together so that these children choosing ‘crime’ as a lifestyle are captured and redirected much earlier in life. It was evident that the Darling Downs have an active presence of community members who are willing to support our young people so they can positively ‘ReEngage’ into society.
Our next Pivotal People evening will be conducted as a combined event with our Gold Coast and Brisbane Pivotal People teams joining together in person at John Paul College. As a hybrid event we will be welcoming Fiona Roush from Sunshine Coast Grammar School and Tony McCormack from Urangan State High School who will also be hosting this event at their respective schools for groups to also engage via an interactive live stream session. We are looking forward to continuing our connections with colleagues across our State. Advertised through our ACELQ Linked In and via our ACEL webpage, this event is scheduled for Wednesday 9th October.
Our people
In our June Branch News, we began the ritual of sharing through this medium, stories of our colleagues across Queensland. As the association for educators in Australia, we truly are fortunate for the diversity of people that contribute to ACEL Queensland and our profession.
As the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, we recognise the professional contribution of Sarah Gunn. A member of our Queensland Executive and lead in our Pivotal People team, Sarah is the Director of Studies and Pedagogy, St Peters Lutheran College Springfield. Previously, Sarah led at St Laurence’s College as their Head of Teaching and Learning – Middle School. Working in boys’, girls’, and co-educational systems, she has experience leading in literacy, teacher development, pedagogy, curriculum and e-learning roles. Sarah is an awardee of the ACEL-Q prize for highest achievement in the Master of Educational Leadership and Management. The school communities that she leads are the beneficiaries of an educational leader who is diligent in applying current educational research and responding to international trends to lead practical, impactful and context-specific school improvement initiatives. Sarah has an interest in cultures of thinking, coaching, and inquiry-based professional collaboration.
Tom McCormick is making an impact in the world of educational leadership. In his position as Head of Senior School at Fairholme College. A valued member of our ACEL Queensland community, he demonstrates a passionate commitment to learning about education, our trends, innovations and challenges.
Beyond his own recent studies, a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) as well as attainment of both Highly Accomplished Teacher and Lead Teacher certifications, Tom avidly searches for opportunities for learning and leadership growth and connection. He seeks out school visits nationally and internationally in broadening his educational literature readership which has led him to establish a professional reading group at Fairholme and the establishment of the Darling Downs Deputies and Heads of Sub School Collegiate, a group he now chairs.
A pivotal member of the ACEL Darling Downs local convenor group for the past 3 years, he has given energy to provision of high-quality networking and learning opportunities for educators across the region. Through his genuine interest in giving back to the profession, Tom offers support to new teachers as well as aspirant leaders. Tom has organised numerous professional learning events and encouraged staff across the region to undertake educational research.
If you have questions or if we can be of any other assistance, please contact our Branch by email: branch.qld@acel.org.au
Liz Foster
ACEL QLD Branch President