What is your role at Knox?

I am the Head of the Preparatory School. My job entails all things Prep! It involves spending time with our boys and staff, working with others to turn our strategic vision into a reality, being there for all who come to Prep each day to work, learn and play.

How long have you been with the School?

I have been at Knox for six years, beginning my tenure in 2018.

What’s a typical day look like for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day! Knox Prep is a dynamic environment where there’s always something happening – every day is different, but most of my time is spent working with our staff, our boys and our parents.

What three things do you love most about working at Knox?

It is the people that make Knox a special place. Our staff are collegial and friendly; our boys are curious and creative; and our parents are supportive and encouraging. When all of these are combined together, it makes for a truly wonderful learning environment.

What or who inspired you to pursue a career in education?

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. From my youngest days, I would play school with my younger brother – I was always the teacher! I’ve never really wanted to do anything else.

What part of your role at Knox do you gain the most joy?

The great joys of my role are two-fold. Firstly, it is in the interactions I am fortunate to have with our boys. Sometimes, these are fleeting moments, and sometimes they are longer and more purposeful conversations, but they always leave me with a lingering smile. I also gain great joy when we celebrate the achievements of our students. There is simply nothing better than setting a goal, committing to work hard to achieve it, and then seeing that goal come to fruition. I get so much joy from being a part of this.

Why did you join Knox?

I spent quite a few years in another boys’ school, before taking up my first headship in a school for girls. Whilst I loved my role there, I missed the boys terribly, so when the opportunity came up to lead Knox Prep, I jumped at the chance! It has absolutely lived up to expectation. Our boys are naturally curious and creative; they love learning and they enjoy sharing their learning with us. It’s such a vibrant and happy place to be!

What is the secret to good teaching and inspiring our young people?

The secret to good teaching lies in great listening. We know that the most important factor in achievement is a great teacher, and our teachers work so hard to make connections with our boys, so they know we can always be relied on. It’s in our ability to meddle in amongst the learning the boys are doing, sharing our joy when we learn something new and celebrating the boys’ learning with them. Learning must be fun and we work hard to make sure that it is!

What achievement are you most proud of?

I am proud of so many things that we have worked together to achieve at Prep, and which have impacted our boys’ and staff learning so significantly. The first is related to learning and curriculum, and involves the development of the Knoxigations learning framework, which the boys and staff have embraced so wholeheartedly, and which make learning authentic and real. The second is our program of personalised learning, where every boy gets what he needs, when he needs it, regardless of his age or year level. This has led to incredible academic growth and confident learners. Another is the redevelopment of our learning spaces. We have transformed very traditional buildings into modern, flexible and purposeful spaces, where learning is joyful and collaboration is made possible.

What’s your leadership style and why have you found this to be successful?

I don’t really believe any good leader is strictly one style over another; rather, it is important to move between styles for the different facets of the roles we play each day. There are two styles that I would reflect more than others though, and they are transformational and relational leadership. Interestingly, I don’t think one can be a transformational leader without having strong relational skills…they both work together.

What impact do you hope to leave on the students?

I hope that our boys leave us as strong, resilient, capable young men who love learning and have the confidence to pursue their passions, regardless of where that leads them. I hope they have both the desire and the skills to make a difference in the lives of people who are both close to them, and those all over the world who they will never know – to understand their ability to make a positive impact.

What is the biggest challenge facing the education sector at the moment? What would you like to see in the future or how do you intend to help fix the problem?

I think the greatest challenge faced at present is breaking free of the education paradigm that has not changed in many generations. It’s not a problem we face at Knox, because we are constantly innovating and tinkering around the edges to do things differently for the benefit of our students. Uncertainty is also a challenge because it makes people fearful, which is why a constant process of improvement is so important.

Who are you outside of Knox?

Outside of Knox, I am a wife to my husband Martin, and a mum to our son, also Martin. I enjoy spending time with them, and with my extended family in Queensland. I enjoy quiet beach walks and time in the ocean. I am also a netball tragic, having been involved in the game for as long as I can remember!

Share one fun fact that people might not know about you.

One of my favourite things is games night in the Floro family. We are all super competitive but I love it and it’s so much fun!

What advice would you give to anyone joining Knox?

Embrace every opportunity, for they are there for the taking. It’s an old adage, certainly, but you will take from Knox what you are willing to give to Knox, and you will be richly rewarded with enhanced skills and expertise, wonderful relationships, and firm, enduring friendships.