WITH THE start of the new school year a new era in leadership was recognised at St Andrew’s Anglican College at Peregian Springs with new Principal Ms Karen Gorrie officially welcomed into the school community.
Ms Gorrie is the third Principal to lead the College since it was founded in 2003 and takes over from the long-standing tenure of Reverend Chris Ivey, who held the role for 18 years.
The service, which was officiated by Archbishop of Brisbane, The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves KCSJ, was attended by both past Principals, Principals from across the Sunshine Coast and dignitaries from within Southeast Queensland.
With a strong vision for the future, Ms Gorrie brings a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering academic excellence, community spirit and holistic development – a seamless fit with that on which the College has built its strong reputation.
“I strongly believe that the people within the community are what makes a community, so I can’t wait to take time to listen to students, teachers, staff, and parents to gain a clear understanding of the school’s values, culture, and accomplishments that they as a community are really proud of and value immensely, Ms Gorrie said.
“I really want to take the time for the St Andrew’s community to get to know me too, and for us to work together to identify areas to grow and develop within the school.”
Ms Gorrie stated that working collaboratively was important.
“As I step into the role of principal, one of my key goals is to build on the positive relationships and sense of community that already exists within the school and I want to continue fostering a culture where students, staff, and families feel valued, supported and empowered.”
Ms Gorrie will also bring her own unique vision to the role.
“I genuinely believe students want to be ‘noticed.’ I think that in an age where more and more people interact on devices, it is important to build a culture that ensures people are truly engaging with each other, whether it’s in the classroom or outside.
“I would like to ensure that every student feels they have a voice and a role to play in our school’s success.”
With over 25 years of experience in education, Ms Gorrie has shown dedication and commitment to innovation in student-centred learning and focused on independent learning in a positive and inclusive school environment.
A strong belief in providing opportunities for every student to fulfil their learning aspirations and building the foundations for future success underpins Ms Gorrie’s academic values.
“All students have the need, and more importantly the right to learn and each individual student deserves to be noticed, to be nurtured, and access learning to reach their potential.”
“It is our goal as educators to ensure that we do all we can within the environment in which we operate for each student to reach their potential.”
As the College embarks on this next phase of growth, Ms Gorrie is focused on building upon the solid foundation established by her predecessor while guiding St Andrew’s towards new achievements and opportunities.
“A strong school culture is one where students, teachers and staff work together as a team, continuously learning from each other.
“I like to encourage open communication where teachers share best practices, students feel comfortable asking questions, and families are engaged partners in the education of their children which in turn enables them to strive towards reaching goals that they may not even realise they can achieve.”
Karen Gorrie is an educator with more than 25 years of experience, most recently as the Deputy Principal of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School in Brisbane. Previously, she has held leadership positions within first-class schools in the Anglican system since 2002 in Brisbane and North Queensland.