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In the second half of 2020, as the COVID-19 outbreak wreaked havoc across Australia’s school system, principal Ros Curtis stepped up as an education spokesperson to inform and reassure families about pandemic-related arrangements in schools.
Indeed, her own school, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, had gained a reputation for pivoting to online learning swiftly and successfully, drawing new student enrolments at a time when the broader system seemed to be in chaos.
Despite the pandemic and the introduction of the new ATAR system, St Margaret’s academic results have excelled in the past two years. The School’s results sat within the top 10 ranking schools in Brisbane and within the top five independent girls’ school of equivalent size.
Recently, Ros was named one of Australia’s Most Influential Educators of 2022 – an accolade she says comes from “seeking out the wisdom” of other influential educators and industry leaders, both in Australia and around the world.
“A strong educational institution and industry is built in collaboration with others, and if I can, in turn, pass on the wisdom gained from others and from my many years’ experience, I am humbled and happy to be in the position to do that,” she tells The Educator.
Recalling the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ros says she witnessed the “incredible dedication and professionalism” of the school’s teachers and support staff.
“They were determined to continue to provide our students with the highest level of education possible, in any circumstance.”
“Our collaborative culture enabled quick-thinking problem solving, the pooling and sharing of knowledge in the online learning space, and a commitment to professional development where required.”
She says the school’s teachers and support staff remained totally focused on student and staff welfare.
“We wanted to ensure we stayed connected and continued to nurture a sense of belonging for all, as together we navigated this unusual period,” she says.
“The welfare of all in our community was and is always equally important as academic outcomes.”
Over the past two years, she has instigated, conducted, and presented professional development programs for both St Margaret’s and staff at other schools. Regarding the top PD priorities for school staff moving forward in 2022, Ros says mental health and wellbeing sits at the top of the list.
“The wellbeing of both staff and students is always paramount, and particularly given the past two years, any learnings we can acquire to assist everyone to deal with the challenges of a world going through significant change is going to be vital,” she says.
“Now more than ever, too, we need strong educational leadership, and we need excellent educators to stay in an industry which can be as challenging as it is rewarding.”
She says educators need professional learning that can “open their minds to the exciting leadership opportunities that may arise.”
“At the same time, these opportunities should also prepare them to deal with a degree of ambiguity endurance – there are many paths to leadership that may arise at different times, in unexpected roles and locations.”
Upon completing her Masters of Education in Leadership and Management in 2005, Ros received the Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD) award from Queensland University of Technology for Academic Excellence in postgraduate study in Educational Leadership. Throughout her career, she has developed an interest in school leadership structures and their effectiveness, curriculum leadership, mentoring aspirant leaders, effective governance and change leadership and management. Ros has taken enrolments at St Margaret from under 800 enrolments to over 1,300, and transformed the campus which now encompasses more green spaces, new modern classrooms, and a new sporting precinct.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, she received an Excellence Award for School Principal of the Year: Non-Government in the Australian Education Awards. She has been the president of the Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association and from 2017–2019 was chair of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Ros is a Queensland Fellow of the Australian Council of Education Leaders, the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and the Australian College of Educators. She is also the Queensland Branch Chair of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools, a member of the Board of Independent Schools Queensland, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Business School at Bond University.
11 Petrie St, Ascot, QLD, 4007
(07) 3862 0777
principal@stmargarets.qld.edu.au
linkedin.com/in/ros-curtis-53a19673
qgsssa.com.au
Ros
Curtis
Principal
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
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2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2013
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Master of Education (Curriculum and Pedagogy)
2013
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2009–2012
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1992–2003
2004–2010
2017–2019
2011–present
2021–present
Ros
Curtis
Principal
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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1992–2003
2004–2010
2017–2019
2011–present
2021–present
Ros Curtis
Principal
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
2021–present
2011–present
2017–2019
2004–2010
1992–2003
2021–
present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
HundrED Country Lead Ambassador
2021–present
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2011–present
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Principal at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
John Laing Award for significant contribution to the professional development of Senior Leaders in Schools, 2011
Excellence Award for School Principal of the Year: Non-Government at Australian Education Awards, 2020, 2021, and 2022
2011–present
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2017–2019
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Chair of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, 2017–2019
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from The Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD), 2018
2017–2019
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2004–2010
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Deputy Principal, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls' School
Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD) award from Queensland University of Technology for Academic Excellence in postgraduate study in Educational Leadership, 2005
Masters of Education in Leadership and Management, 2005
2004–2010
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1992–2003
human resources | key media
St Hilda’s School, Gold Coast, Head of Senior School (previously Assistant Principal and Head of Faculty)
1992–2003
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Milestones