Living the values, leading the way

LEANNE RUSSELL, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Leadership in schools often reveals itself in the quietest moments - a word of encouragement, a story at assembly, or a calm presence during challenge. Dr Peter Miller has spent the past decade offering all of this and more to Middle School.

As a Head of Middle School in a previous life, Principal Dr Peter Miller has a strong understanding of the strengths and needs of young adolescents. In his 10 years at the College, Peter has informed and supported a range of activities and programs at this campus.

Peter’s impact at Middle School has shown itself through his advocacy for young people and his strong belief in supporting students in navigating their relationships with one another.

He insists that, through dealings with children and the pastoral programs, the focus must always be on helping children understand themselves, their place, and their connection to others.

Peter often says that labouring over the mistakes they may have made does not achieve a great deal. Young people all make mistakes; we just need to help them learn from them and encourage them to do better next time.

Peter takes the time to know, understand, and support those students who are struggling to manage themselves and the expectations placed on them. He also takes the time to celebrate and acknowledge those students who are succeeding, thriving, and making a difference. Everything comes from a place of support, and with the student at the centre of his thinking.

At each fortnightly Middle School Assembly, students choose the theme

for the assembly they lead. One of Peter’s great strengths is his ability to take that theme and share a story, a life lesson, or a personal reflection that can reach the hearts and minds of the students. Peter’s dear mother, Ruth and her wise counsel were mentioned many times.

Peter focuses strongly on the College values and gives voice to these values by living and espousing them at every opportunity.

He is constantly encouraging students to think about how they are contributing to the College community and what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. Role modelling, and showing the way rather than telling the way, has also been a constant mantra that the

children and staff have heard from Peter.

As a leader and colleague, Peter encourages people around him to reflect and coaches them through quandaries as they arise. He never gives the answer, but carefully and skilfully prompts those who have sought his advice to find the solution for themselves.

‘What is the right thing to do?’ is a question Peter asks himself, and those around him, constantly. It is this desire to do the right thing for students, past and present, that has made him the impactful and considered leader we have witnessed in his time at The Geelong College.

Peter’s latest vision for the College Masterplan, supported by the purchase of the Merrawarp Road site, is one that will likely see a significant change in the structure of the Middle School (Preparatory) Campus in the coming years. I know he will watch, with great interest, the development of this site from afar.

In the few months remaining as College Principal, Peter will continue to support, coach, and guide those around him, and he will quietly and humbly leave this place better than he found it.

During his tenure as Principal, Peter has brought peace, giving us a sense of calm and stability within our school. You feel it every time he addresses the staff and students as a collective, or when he sits with you one-on-one.