2024 Beginning Principals Profile
Name: Peta Sparkes
Current School: Penola Catholic College, Emu Plains, NSW
Previous Position: Assistant Principal
First Year as a Principal: 2024
My big picture for my current school is: Keep my staff, keep them learning and growing so every child is able to feel safe, respected, successful and proud of their achievements at school.
The Joy of becoming a Principal is: Being able to resource teachers and staff so that our students can achieve their very best whilst at school.
Favourite Book: Elephants on acid and other bizarre experiments
Favourite Food: Thai Param long song
Interests / Hobbies: Gym, gardening and entertaining with family and friends.
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Making an appointment at the gym on the way home, so I know I have a time to finish work and begin time with my family and friends. Knowing at the gym I have to work hard and can’t talk, allows me to decompress the day and put a pause on any challenging situations. It is amazing how the next day brings solutions that the previous day I didn’t see.
Advice for an Aspiring Leader: Seek feedback and find mentors who see your gifts whilst supporting you to grow.
Favourite Leadership Quote: “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept” Lt General Morrison.
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: The toughest experiences, the best lessons.
Name: Gary Conwell
Current School: St Stephen’s Catholic College, Mareeba
Previous Position: Police Officer – Northern Territory
First Year as a Principal: 2023
My big picture for my current school is: Learning and teaching improvement, developing an expert teaching team, and capital improvement
The Joy of becoming a Principal is: seeing students learn and staff develop their practice
Favourite Book in the last year: Pax: Ware and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age
Favourite Food: Anything cooked for me!
Interests / Hobbies: Theatre, AFL, reading
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Exercise, sleep
Advice for an Aspiring Leader: Be real
Favourite Leadership Quote at the moment: "Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems."
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Change your mind, change your life.
Name: Miss Angela Collins
Current School: St Mary’s School, Goondiwindi
Previous Position: Assistant Principal – Mission and Identity, St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba
First Year as a Principal: 2023
My big picture for my current school is: To create and foster a dynamic and thriving learning environment for students from Prep through to Year 10
The Joy of becoming a Principal is: Working with dedicated staff who want the best for their students and seeing students achieve their potential
Favourite Book: Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Favourite Food: My mum’s Chinese Beef
Interests / Hobbies: Exercise and going to the Movies
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Separating work and home
Advice for an Aspiring Leader: Be true to yourself
Favourite Leadership Quote: “Be curious not judgemental”
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Perspective is Everything.