NATIONAL AWARDS FOR FIVE VICTORIAN EDUCATORS

Six Victorian school leaders have been officially recognised for their dedication and commitment to education in this state.

Phil Clinkaberry, Howard Kelly, Richard Mucha, Bernard Neal, Sue Peddlesden and Paul Sheedy all received John Laing Professional Development Awards from Principals Australia Institute (PAI) at a special ceremony in Melbourne today.

  • Phil Clinkaberry, Principal of Killara Primary School, Sunbury, has supported school leaders in the northern metropolitan areas to actively engage with professional learning with a significant impact on teaching and learning
  • Howard Kelly, Head of the Junior School, Camberwell Grammar, has developed professional learning networks and contributed to new opportunities for colleagues to develop knowledge and skills
  • Richard Mucha, Principal at St Mary’s Primary School, Hastings, developed a regional community partnership and has made an outstanding commitment to the health and wellbeing of principals in Catholic schools
  • Bernard Neal, Principal ofGalen Catholic College, Wangaratta, has had wide experience as a Principal in Catholic schools and has provided leadership development and support to aspiring leaders
  • Sue Peddlesden, Principal of Gleneagles Secondary College, Endeavour Hills, is recognised as an outstanding educational leader who collaborates and supports colleagues in her region
  • Paul Sheedy, Principal St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Coburg, had made an exceptional contribution to developing occupational health and safety policies and documentation for Catholic schools.

Each of the six educators is an outstanding school leader and has made substantial contributions to education in Victoria through strategic senior leadership roles over a considerable time. These leaders have been responsible for working with other senior educators to develop capacity in government, Catholic and Independent schools.

The national awards are presented each year to school leaders who have made significant contributions to the professional learning and development of their colleagues. This year, the President of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Dennis Yarrington,will present the awards at a ceremony hosted by Principals Australia Institute.

“Our five Victorian winners very much capture the spirit of the awards, and their nominators were glowing in their praise for their achievements,” says Principals Australia Institute Board Chair, the Hon. Susan Lenehan.

MsLenehan said it was important to recognise and celebrate the role principals played in providing leadership and a community focus. “Good schools don’t just educate and inspire the next generation of students, they act as a focus and catalyst for learning, development and community spirit,” she said.

“Good schools need good teachers, and that means they need visionary leaders who can see beyond the day-to-day necessities and inspire students and teachers alike to achieve great things. We are very proud of what this year’s recipients have done and what they stand for.”

The awards, established in 2004, honour John Laing, a former Tasmanian school principal. John Laing was the driving force behind establishing cross-sectoral professional learning projects for all school leaders across Australia through Principals Australia Institute.

More information about each recipient is attached. All are available for interview.

Media contact:

Dennis Yarrington, President, Australian Primary Principals Association:

0466 655 468

Phil Clinkaberry–0417 359 028
Howard Kelly – 03 9835 1777
Richard Mucha – 0407 309 782 / Bernard Neal – 0407 723 092
Sue Peddlesden – 0403 499 185
Paul Sheedy – 0425 853 749

John Laing Professional Development Awards 2015

Brief biographies of six Victorianhonorees

Phil Clinkaberry – nominated by Victorian Principals Association

Phil has been an educator in Victorian primary schools for 35 years, and is currently in his 12th year as Principal of Killara Primary School. As a member of the Victorian Principals Association for 15 years, he has made a significant contribution to education in the northern metropolitan area where he has had responsibility for leadership as Councillor and Regional Convenor. He has been influential in developing the capacity of his colleagues through regular professional learning meetings. He is respected for his ability to research, identify and synthesise issues that support principals and teachers to address the needs and achievements of students across the region.

In other strategic roles as Executive Chair of the Hume North Student Services Network and Chair of the Sunbury Diggers Rest Principal Network, Phil provides opportunities for school leaders to learn from current research on teaching and learning practices. Phil was acknowledged in 2011 by a Victorian Principals Association Service Award for making a significant contribution to primary education in Victoria and for his role in organising a professional network in the Northern region.

The John Laing Award for Professional Development recognises Phil’s outstanding leadership and commitment to professional learning which has had a significant impact on teaching and learning particularly in schools in the Northern metropolitan region.

Howard Kelly – nominated by Victorian Independent Primary School Heads of Australia

Howard has held teaching and leadership positions in schools over 34 years including in Tasmania, the United States and Victoria. He spent eight years in a school in Ohio where he set up structures that enabled teachers to grow and focus on lifelong learning, and he co-founded the Heads Conversation Group that provided professional learning opportunities for American and Canadian colleagues.

Howard has been Head of the Junior School at Camberwell Grammar School for eight years. One of the strategies he has implemented is a coaching model that enables teachers to reflect with, and learn from peers. As an active member of the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia, he has developed professional learning programs. He has chaired the committee which has organised the two most recent Tri-State biennial seminars which involve school leaders from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. He is involved in the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria junior heads group which is an important means of providing support and collegiality. Howard is committed to developing professional learning, networking and providing new opportunities for knowledge about teaching and learning both at the school and the system level.

The John Laing Professional Development Award acknowledges Howard’s sustained and outstanding commitment to the professional learning and growth of his colleagues.

Richard Mucha – nominated by Independent Education Union Victoria Tasmania

Richard has been an educator for 37 years and has been Principal at St Mary’s Primary School, Hastings since 1997. He has had a significant community building role in the area where he has been involved in the Linking Schools and Early Years partnership since 2007. The partnership has developed a whole-town approach to reducing disadvantage. The collaboration and professional learning with two government schools, pre-school services and community organisations and agencies has brought about considerable improvements in student learning. Although not a Rotary member, the Hastings Rotary Club awarded Richard with a Paul Harris Fellowship recognising his outstanding commitment to the community.

Within the Catholic education in Victoria, Richard has provided sustained and enthusiastic leadership in the area of principal health and wellbeing. In this role he has produced the development of new guidelines for Catholic schools responding to threatening or violent situations.

He is a principals’ representative for the Independent Education Union, and a member of the local parish stewardship council and of the Literacy Advisory Committee for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

The John Laing Award for Professional Development acknowledges Richard’s outstanding role in leading a regional community partnership and his contribution to the area of principal health and wellbeing in Catholic schools.

Bernard Neal – nominated by Principals’ Association Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools

Over a period of 38 years in education, Bernard has taken on a number of leadership roles in Catholic secondary schools in Victoria including ten years at Monivae College at Hamilton. He is Principal at Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta, in the 17th year in that role. He has a strong reputation for developing capacity of teachers and peers in areas related to leadership, teaching and learning. Studying for a Masters in Educational Leadership, alongside members of his senior leadership team, provided a rich opportunity for professional discussions and growth. He maintains a strong interest in current research and applies the knowledge to his practice which he also shares with his staff and other school leaders.

Bernard exemplifies all of the L5 leadership statements and he is respected for creating a rich learning culture which builds the repertoire of others. He has mentored a number of colleagues aspiring to leadership who, with his support and guidance, have become principals. He has been a member of Principal and Deputy Principal Appraisal Panels and an Executive member of the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals.

The presentation of the John Laing Award for Professional Development recognises Bernard’s sustained capacity for, and skills in, leadership development and building networks that advance the profession.

Sue Peddlesden – nominated by the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals

Sue is an educator with 32 years’ experience in schools. Currently she is Principal of Gleneagles Secondary College, and previously was Campus Principal of Gleneagles Campus of Eumemmerring Secondary College. The breadth of leadership roles of both staff and students in her school reflects Sue’s sharp focus on building leadership capacity. Since 2012 she has been Executive Principal, coordinating the Casey North Network that covers 22 government schools in the region.

In her role within the College, and in positions in the wider educational context of Victoria, she exemplifies all five of the L5 statements about educational leadership. Sue’s colleagues emphasise her capacity which ‘inspires leadership actions and aspirations in others’. In 2014 and 2015 she has been an Executive member of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, and committee member since 2011. As a member of the Stakeholders and Principal Reference Group 2013 - 2015, Sue was involved in representing the Association and principals in providing advice to government. She has also been a member of the Australian Education Union Advisory Committee.

The John Laing Award for Professional Development acknowledges Sue’s professionalism, outstanding energy and influence as an educational leader who enables leadership, and collaborates and supports colleagues.

Paul Sheedy – nominated by Victorian Association Catholic Primary School Principals

Paul’s 34 year career as an educator includes 20 years as a Principal. His first appointment was Foundation Principal at Holy Cross, New Gisborne in 1995. He is currently Principal of St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Coburg.

From a system perspective, Paul has made a significant contribution to the strategic work of the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals in roles as Treasurer and Executive member from 2009 to 2013. During this time he was instrumental in developing Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures for Victorian Catholic schools. This precise management work has included creating a partnership with a provider to implement processes that support principals with compliance with legislative requirements. Paul developed documentation and instructive videos about practices used as a model for principal colleagues.

Since 2010 Paul has worked closely with the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Occupational Health & Safety Reference Group as the Victorian Catholic Primary Schools’ Principal Member. Paul has developed professional learning programs to support principals in managing implementation of legislated OH & S policies and practices in Catholic schools.

The John Laing Award for Professional Development acknowledges Paul’s outstanding contribution to professional learning of colleagues, and in particular, his role in communicating occupational health and safety policies and procedures to Victorian Catholic schools.

Principals Australia Institute provides school leaders in government, Catholic and Independent schools throughout Australia with professional learning, leadership development and support including national mental health and wellbeing initiatives.