Donella Munro

2021 is Donella’s first year at Flagstaff Hill Primary School and her 16^th year in school leadership. Her previous 15 years in leadership were spent on the Yorke Peninsula in the roles of Deputy Principal, Principal and Principal Consultant. Donella believes that a school that has strong values, positive relationships and open, clear communication will provide an environment for educators to grow and students to thrive.

Donella has a strong understanding of evidence-based teaching practices in relation to literacy and numeracy and extensive experience with school improvement planning. Donella is passionate about maintaining a school environment that is accepting and inclusive of all and ensures the wellbeing of all is a priority.

Donella's primary focus is to support and work in partnership with the Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal and Business Manager to improve the learning, engagement and achievement of students across the whole school community. This means assisting the teaching and support staff as they endeavour to provide the very best learning environment and opportunities for our learners. It also involves working alongside parents and students to ensure effective engagement in learning and communication with key stakeholders of the school community.

Should you wish to contact me: Donella.Munro104@schools.sa.edu.au

I began teaching in 1983 at Meningie Area School, followed by 4 years in Port Augusta. Upon my return to the metropolitan area, I worked in a number of schools in the southern area specialising in Early Years teaching, which included 10 years at Flagstaff Hill from 1997-2006. Prior to working at FHS, I also took the opportunity to move to Suffolk in the U.K. for a number of years teaching from year 1-6. Throughout my career, I would volunteer for any opportunity to take on leadership roles for various projects, enabling me to increase my depth of knowledge, skills and experience. This led to working as a Reading Support Coach and then leadership positions at Parkside Primary, Walkerville Primary and Westbourne Park Primary Schools. I have also stepped up into the principal positions at both Walkerville and Westbourne Park Primary Schools. I am passionate about my role supporting all students, staff and parents to develop a school culture through authentic engagement, improvement of learning outcomes, connectedness and positivity. My current position runs through to the end of term 2 2023, when I will return to Westbourne Park.

Should you wish to contact me: CleoDeGouw899@schools.sa.edu.au

Clare O'Neill

Clare has been a teacher at Flagstaff Hill Primary School since 2018. She has had a number of roles over these years, including reception teacher, maths project manager, behaviour and inclusion support and now Assistant Principal, leading numeracy.

Her primary role is to lead Mathematics and Numeracy through whole school approaches such as The Big Ideas in Number, as well as to assist with all aspects of student support. This includes assisting teachers with differentiation strategies/SMARTAR goals, One Plans and student funding. This involves collating and collecting information and observation notes of students requiring intervention and additional support as well as applying for IESP funding where needed. Clare is passionate about student inclusion and is excited to be undertaking this new role for the rest of the year.

In conjunction with student support, Clare also supports classroom teachers with student behaviour and wellbeing. As well as working closely with the business manager to provide ongoing support to the classroom based Student Support Officers (SSOs) to ensure that they are confidently implementing the strategies needed to progress student learning.

Ruth Walker

Ruth began her teaching career in 1999 by teaching a variety of year levels, at a number of different schools. From 2010-13 she taught at Pipalyatjara Anangu School, where she developed her passion for Aboriginal Education. Ruth joined Flagstaff Hill Primary School in 2014 as a junior primary teacher. She is passionate about Literacy and has developed her knowledge and skills in this area, by taking part in professional development, and being a part of our schools Literacy Action Team, and other school-based Literacy groups. While a class teacher, Ruth also had the privilege of mentoring a number of pre-service teachers and SSO’s. In 2022 she volunteered to do relief behaviour support in the school office, a role which she found to be rewarding. Realising that she was interested in pursuing leadership positions, Ruth was delighted to win the role of Assistant Principal, leading Literacy, for terms 2-4, 2023. Her primary role is to lead Literacy through whole school approaches such as the Big 6 components of reading, and DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills). As well as leading literacy, Ruth’s role includes supporting classroom teachers with student behaviour and wellbeing, overseeing the Student Support Room and Aboriginal Education.

Sonya Scottney-Turbill

Sonya has been at Flagstaff Hill Primary School since 1994 and during that time she has had several roles and responsibilities ranging from being an SSO supporting students and IT Technician. In 2001 she took on the role of Finance Officer and was appointed as Business Manager in 2009.

Sonya’s primary focus is the Business vision of the school ensuring collaboration and supportive clear structures are the foundations to achieve financial viability, so that learning can be the core of everything we do as a school.