Dr John Collier BA, DIP.ED., DIP. BIBL.ST., ED.D, FACE, FACEL Our Head of School, Dr John Collier, has had 45 years thus far teaching experience and is in his 28th calendar year as a Principal (Head of School). Dr Collier is deeply interested • Principal, St Paul’s Grammar School in academic excellence, Penrith, 1997 – 2009. St Paul’s is a strong pastoral care, vibrant P-12 Independent interdenominational Christian School which grew to 1350 co-curricular programmes, students. At the time of his departure, modes, including within the academic results were the equal Christian education, of of elite schools in the northern engaging young people in suburbs and inner west of Sydney. authentic and critical thinking, Under his leadership, St Paul’s was and the development of well- the first school in NSW to introduce the Primary Years Programme and rounded young people who Middle Years Programme of the will become successful adults International Baccalaureate. and active citizens. Indeed, • Founding Principal, Thomas Reddall these areas were the subject High School, a government school of his doctoral research. in Campbelltown, south-western He advocates a style of Sydney, 1990 – 1997, appointed Christian education which is when there were no other staff, and no buildings. Thomas Reddall High open and inclusive, encourages School grew to 1100 students by 1996. Dr Collier regards critique and thoughtful He was amongst the first group of working with young analysis, and permits respectful people appointed to government people as his life’s work. dissent. Dr Collier believes school Principalships through a merit He finds them immensely Heads of Schools should also selection process, and at the time of appointment, was the youngest encouraging and be students themselves, and government school Principal in the vibrant. Each new year, writers, who seek to contribute state (still in short trousers, he says!). as students are about to to the way in which education • Leading Teacher (Deputy Principal), is conceptualised and delivered return to school, he is so Elderslie High School, Camden, excited by the resumption, School roles 1989 – 1990. Leading Teacher roles he can’t sleep! This being were positions awarded for the first the case, retirement is • Head, St Andrew’s Cathedral School time in 1989 and, somewhat not imminent (or even Sydney from the beginning of 2010. controversially, to those identified by the Department of Education as the on the horizon!). St Andrew’s is the central Anglican School of the Sydney Anglican 53 best teachers in the state. They were Diocese, with approximately 1200 merit appointments designed to fast track these teachers, particularly in students K-12. the areas of curriculum, assessment, • Also Head, St Andrew’s Cathedral teaching methodology, staff Gawura School, an Indigenous K-6 development and community liaison. day school of 28 students on site in Within the 53 choices of schools St Andrew’s House. available to those selected, he was very fortunate in being placed in his • Member (Observer status) • Leader of review teams to inspect first choice, Elderslie High School, of the Board of the Association and report, according to normal which was then the academically of Independent Schools (AIS) NSW, Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation top performing school, government, 2011-2013 serving as a board of evaluative cycle, on St Luke’s Anglican non-government or independent, in governance for provision of services Grammar School, Dee Why and south-western Sydney. At the end of to the independent sector, including Richard Johnson Anglican College, 1990, he was one of only two of the curriculum, financial, legal and Oakhurst. industrial advice. 53 promoted to the Principalship. • Member of Australian Christian • Member of AIS Committees: Forum of Education and Teachers’ Beyond school roles Election Strategy; Professional Christian Fellowship of NSW; Executive Development; Employment Member of TCF 1997 – 1998. • Chair, AHISA (NSW/ACT) Relations; and Great Teaching from 2011 - 2013. Inspired Learning; former member AHISA (Association of Heads of of AIS Languages Committee. Sabbatical leave professional Independent Schools of Australia) development • AIS and AHISA Mentor for is the peak body for Heads in the emerging leaders (those aspiring sector. In addition to advocacy and 2003 to Principalship) in schools. consultation with statutory bodies Three weeks in Toronto, Canada, and politicians, leadership of this 120 • Chair 2016-2017 and Vice Chairman studying Anglican Schools in Canada school member group has included Independent Sporting Association and spending time with Professor (ISA), 2006 – 2007, 2010 – 2015. induction of new members to the Michael Fullan, international authority which, along with GPS, CAS and Association (and often to Principalship on school change processes and AHIGS constitutes the Saturday Sport itself), Chairing of meetings, building quality into teaching. associations in the independent sector. leadership of the Branch Executive, The role of Chairman is part of the and troubleshooting and pastoral 2012 Executive on a Board of Directors of advice for Principals. this 20 member Association. One month spent visiting Anglican Schools in England, particularly studying As Chair at a time of political • Former Chair of Head Masters’ English methods of tracking student discussion over the Gonski reforms, Conference (HMC) Education engagement and achievement, and involved in meetings with the Prime Research Group, targeting current building school culture; Minister, Premier and State and educational research of high value Federal Ministers for Education. to Principals. Conference attendance: • International Professional Development Also initiated a Coalition with • Initiated and Chaired Collegial Group Conference for school leaders; successive Presidents of NSW State of Principals of new government • British Christian Education Conference; Secondary Principals’ Council to schools in NSW 1992-1997 and • Two short courses at Regent College instituted conferences, visits to one lobby politicians, ACARA (Australian in Vancouver, Canada. Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting another’s schools and joint lobbying Authority) and the NSW Board of of the Department of Education 2015 Finances Directorate and the Director Studies on, respectively, funding for – General over appropriate resourcing • Seven weeks in Scandinavia and all sectors, and curriculum matters. of new government schools. This Europe attending the International • Chair, AHISA (NSW/ACT) developed into pastoral support of Principals Confederation Conference Academic Committee 2004-2011, some new Principals who were in Finland on quality education, visiting dealing with the BOS and ACARA on all struggling with aspects of establishing schools and meeting with principals matters of curriculum and assessment, their schools. and education system leaders including Chairing termly meetings • Recipient of NSW State Secondary • Australian Institute of Company with the President and Chief Executive Principals Council Travelling Directors course. of the NSW Board of Studies. Fellowship 1996 and 1997 to visit and study 19 new high schools in NSW, 2016 • Member of AHISA National Board Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania, 2011 – 2013, governing the • EurECA (European Association of and subsequently developed a kit on association of 430 independent Christian Educators) International commencing new schools for the schools in Australia. Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. NSW Department of School Education. • Solo Representative of AHISA at • Member of the Issues in Education Academic qualifications the ICP (International Confederation Committee and Anglican Education and honours of Principals) Board meeting in Commission of the Sydney Anglican Cairns, 2013, attempting to manage Diocese since 1994, contributing BA DipEd (Sydney University), Diploma professional development and to development of Anglican policy of Biblical Studies (Moore Theological networking for Principals across to support education in government College), Doctor of Education (University the globe. and independent schools. of Western Sydney) Doctoral Thesis (2008) on the Role of Macquarie Fields High School, • Collier, J., (2017), Finding an effective Leadership in Developing New Schools, Campbelltown, 1986 – 1988 model of Christian proclamation in Academic Excellence, and School Culture (Head Teacher History) schools Goodlet, K., Collier J., and and Ethos, and Christian Education. George, T., (eds), Better Learning. Elderslie High School, Trajectories for educators in Christian Member of Chapter of St Andrew’s Camden, 1989 – 1990 schools, St. Mark’s National Theological Cathedral and Lay Canon of the Cathedral, (Leading Teacher) which has ultimate responsibility for Centre, ACT. Thomas Reddall High School, St Andrew’s Cathedral School. • Goodlet K. and Collier J. (eds), (2014), Campbelltown, 1990 – 1997 (Principal) Fellow of Australian College of Educators Teaching Well. Insights for Educators in and the Australian Council for Educational St Paul’s Grammar School, Christian Schools, Barton Books, ACT. Leaders. These are the ultimate honours Penrith, 1997 – 2009 (Principal) As well as co-editing, contributed for educators in Australia, from the peak four pieces to the book, which was St Andrew’s Cathedral School, professional bodies. launched in late February 2014, but Sydney, from 2010 (Head of School) will go into its fourth print-run in May, Winner of the Alan Laughlin Medal St Andrew’s Cathedral