Two NSW school principals have been awarded scholarships to travel to the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the United States to take part in a special education program for principals to help strengthen their leadership skills.
Ann Caro from Lithgow High School and Jesmond Zammit of Gorokan Public School, have been chosen for the program.
Ms Caro (pictured) was recognised for her career-long commitment to working in areas of high disadvantage and improving outcomes for students in those settings, as demonstrated by the establishment of a wellbeing centre at Lithgow High School last year.
The centre hosts providers of onsite mental health and other social support for students, and has so far delivered more than 800 sessions.
Mr Zammit said the introduction of an explicit and systematic approach towards professional learning for teachers over the past few years at Gorokan Public School had focused on providing educational equity in a complex and challenging social context.
“The challenge for me as the principal is to ensure staff have the skills, knowledge, resources and resilience in order to best support and engage their students to maximise their learning potential and wellbeing,” Mr Zammit said.
“The school has also dedicated a major part of its school plan to support student wellbeing and works closely with external agencies to address the ongoing needs of students and their families.”
Secretary of the Department of Education, Mark Scott said it was wonderful to see two outstanding NSW public school principals recognised with this prestigious award.
“This award not only recognises the work Ann and Jesmond have already done, but opens the door for them to build on, and share more widely, their leadership insights,” Mr Scott said.
