Rangeway principal to study at Harvard

Rangeway Primary School principal-on-secondment Jacquie Quartermaine is one of 20 WA public school principals who have been selected to study education leadership at Harvard University this year.

The 20 principals, who were selected by a departmental panel from more than 130 applicants, are from metropolitan and country schools in WA.

Education Minister Peter Collier said the principals would travel to Boston in June to learn from the world’s best educators, after being accepted into an intensive course delivered by the Harvard Graduate School of Education with online learning and executive mentoring.

“The modern principal not only needs to be an exceptional leader, but an entrepreneur with the vision to drive new ideas,” Mr Collier said.

“The Harvard experience offers a rare opportunity for Western Australian principals to explore leadership in partnership directly with their counterparts from around the world.

“These principals were chosen because they have made an outstanding contribution to public education.

“On their return, they will provide expertise in future reform and innovation across all public schools, including their own.”

A further 20 principals will be selected for the Fellowship Program in 2017.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney, who is a member of the Rangeway Primary School board, said Ms Quartermaine would be an outstanding ambassador for Geraldton and WA.

Ms Quartermaine is currently on secondment to the Education Department’s Mid West Regional Office.

Notable Harvard alumni include US President Barack Obama and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.