Sunshine Coast Grammar School’s new School Principal, Mrs Anna Owen, has been named in The Educator’s Hot List for 2021.
The list includes 36 education professionals from around Australia who have made a significant contribution to the K-12 education space in the past year.
The winners include principals, teachers, school managers and other industry staff who are recognised for outstanding work in delivering exceptional educational experiences to their students.You can see the full list here.
This recognition sets apart members in the education industry as ones to watch.
“I am honoured to be selected among so many inspiring educators as part of this list,” Mrs Owen said.
Mrs Owen was selected for her commitment to looking at ways to improve education programs, enhance the students’ experience, and in general, empower teachers to be able to do their best and professional staff to support teachers to succeed.
In the past 12 months, Mrs Owen identified unique opportunities at Canberra Girls Grammar School and implemented a sports’ excellence program, established the Dance Company, and launched The House: Women in Politics and Government unique program.
The House, the only program of its type in Australia, equips CGGS students with a range of skills required to follow a career in politics or government. The House enables girls of character, competence, confidence and consideration to commit to being women of power who lead change for an equitable and sustainable future.
The program is inclusive of CGGS students from Years 6 – 12 and takes the time to effectively prepare young women through a combination of subject-based learning, experiential learning beyond the classroom and engagement beyond the school gates. Guided by a team of educators, mentors and professionals, the students actively participate in developing the program. And who better than the girls’ school up the hill from Parliament House to lead this program?
“Strong leadership and integrity of intent and purpose will have the greatest impact at the grassroots level because this is the route to global change and influence. Schools as organisations need to respond and remain responsive but continue to take time to understand the need for real change, versus perceived change, and if the evidence dictates, continue to do what they know they do well at that grassroots level,” Mrs Owen said. “I am very fortunate to have co-developed this program with my colleagues and students.”
Mrs Owen will step down from her role as Principal at Canberra Girls Grammar at the end of 2021, before returning to her native Queensland, where she will take a new role as Principal of Sunshine Coast Grammar School in 2022.