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COVER STORY
RISING STARS 2017 CHRIS CLEMENTS School psychologist/counsellor Pulteney Grammar School (SA)
Chris Clements has shown outstanding leadership, commitment and effort in his review of student wellbeing programs right across Pulteney Grammar School, and in his consequent proposal of a psychological model and wellbeing curriculum delivery structure. Based on his review, Clements concluded that the school should move away from its ‘acute care’ reactive and eclectic wellbeing model towards a proactive, well-conceptualised and consistent model that would equip students with the capabilities and skills necessary to promote health and wellbeing. The proposed model provides the framework to teach specific mindfulness skills to deal with painful thoughts and negative feelings effectively. It’s an approach that can be applied practically within the school setting to build resilience and psychological flexibility by empowering teachers to have challenging discussions with students and parents in a supportive way. Additionally, Clements proposed that a Reception to Year 12 wellbeing faculty be created, as opposed to expecting all teachers in the school to have the expertise and desire to teach wellbeing. It’s proposed that the faculty will consist of trained wellbeing teachers to deliver the curriculum right through R to 12. Clements’ proposal has been presented to the school executive, and an implementation plan is being developed. His leadership and work on the project have been regarded by the school as “exceptional”, enabling it to proactively address future wellbeing concerns.
REBECCA WATTS Head of Year 12 St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School (WA)
Rebecca Watts is a true all-rounder, with all the qualities essential to leading a school in the future, according to her nominating colleague. Watts joined St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School in 2012 as head of media studies. Her innovation is said to have put media studies on the map at the school. Under Watts’ leadership, the department has become high performing, including having the top WACE student in the state and strong results achieved across the group. In 2014, Watts was appointed head of Year 12 and is admired greatly by her students. She has introduced many initiatives to build a community within the Year 12 group, including to release some of the pressure felt by students and to help those students have fun. Watts has also built great relationships with other staff members, who view her as an impressive leader. Similarly, parents have responded very positively to how she approaches and encourages students. Whatever it is she’s doing within the school, Watts does it with great enthusiasm and a commitment to the students’ education, and is invariably inclusive and forward-looking.
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HAYLEY CROSS Assistant principal Lawson Public School (NSW)
She’s a teacher who loves to inspire and support everyone around her, and a leader who names solutions rather than problems. And in the words of her nominating colleague, “There is a great hope for education in Australia when we are fortunate enough to have future leaders, like Hayley, serving our community.” Highly regarded by her community, Hayley Cross has taken her team on a continuous journey of school improvement, Specifically, she’s played an integral role in the development of Lawson Public School’s own Quality School, Successful Students (QTSS) initiative. This was instrumental in Cross’s team members developing rich and meaningful professional development plans that, in turn, were directly tied to the school’s strategic plan and will continue having a strong impact on student growth in literacy and numeracy. Cross also played a crucial part in the successful introduction of STEM education at Lawson Public School. While the initiative was initially met with resistance, she persevered and set an example for colleagues by completing smaller, classroom-based projects, which ultimately led to an important wider, whole-school project. Cross was recommended to present at the Future Schools Expo this year on her achievements in STEM and, in particular, on how she was able to inspire teachers to embrace the initiative.
www.educatoronline.com.au
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