Staff at Tully State High School are invited to weekly “Chew the Fat” sessions with English HOD Kathleen Macdonald where she personally checks in on her team and discusses everything from behavior management to moderation.
Kathleen is a long-serving English teacher who actively prioritises the professional development of her staff and embraces her passion for English with gusto. The single Queensland recipient of the highly regarded Peter Botsman Award in 2017 for her dedication to the practice, promotion and development of quality English education, Kathleen is paving the way with her enthusiasm for the written word. |
She has led the way with syllabus writing on the expert team, presenting at the regional student-free day to several hundreds of English teachers, preparing assessment and teaching units shared statewide.
Her care and personal consideration of her faculty extend beyond the expected. With an array of tools in her teaching toolbox, she has mentored many English heads of department within the region and further abroad and was a panel chair and panellist for roughly 20 years. She also is a Queensland Core Skills Test marker for short response items and further training has seen Kathleen complete the endorser and assessor courses for the new Senior curriculum. Her commitment to her work can easily be seen in both her actions and her leadership. Earlier this year, Kathleen was chosen as one of only two educators in Queensland to attend the Bell Shakespeare Regional Mentor Program. The organisation collaborates with teachers across the country where they receive specialist training in practical and innovative ways to teach Shakespeare, culminating with a Bell Shakespeare production at the Sydney Opera House. Upon completing the mentorship, Kathleen ran several workshops and twilight sessions for local teachers and other teachers within the cluster, Townsville area and at State conference and developed school units on Shakespeare for the new English syllabus at Tully State High. “She is always looking for ways to develop her own skillset,” says Andrew. Principal of Tully State High, Richard Graham, supports Kathleen’s nomination, stating “Our great results on various testing assessments are a direct result of her leadership. She inspires students to become English teachers and English teachers to become English Leaders.”
Congratulations Kathleen on your QCT Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award nomination. |