Leadership team in place for new school
The leadership team that will back up Whyalla Secondary College Principal Tricia Richman when the highly-anticipated 7-12 school opens next year has been revealed.
Below you can find out a little more about each of the team members, who all have extensive backgrounds in the education field and have very familiar faces.
Maddie McArthur - Senior Leader: Aboriginal Education
Having experienced my formative years of primary school and commencing middle school in England, I completed my secondary education in Adelaide, South Australia. Whilst many of my interests, sense of humour and mannerisms relate back to my British upbringing, it is a rare moment when my accent surfaces. I studied a Bachelor of Education and Arts (History major) at Flinders University and completed a year of cross-institutional study at the University of Sydney.
My teaching career began at Memorial Oval Primary School where I taught from Year 3 to Year 7. In 2019, I took on the role of Senior Leader: Learning Improvement (Primary) where I had the privilege to work in close consultation with the Local Education Team, our Aboriginal Community Education Team Leader, the Department's Learning Improvement Division and the wonderful and passionate leaders and teachers of our seven mainstream primary schools and the Whyalla Special Education Centre. During this time I also undertook work with the Workforce Development Team to support the induction of our local Early Career Teachers and their Mentors. I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of the Whyalla Secondary College team as Senior Leader for Aboriginal Education. I look forward to continuing to build my learning and working with the community to support our students.
Pete Usher - Assistant Principal Years 7 and 8
Born in Whyalla, where I have called home for 30 years having only a short stint away, it is a place where my family have developed strong links to community. I love being able to raise my son in a community that offers so many opportunities for him to grow, learn and engage in his life journey in a safe supportive environment.
Once coming back to Whyalla after gaining my teaching degree, I found myself drawn to beginning my professional career. I was fortunate enough to win a position within Catholic Education as a primary school teacher. Throughout my journey within Catholic Education I was given the chance to progress my career as a specialist physical education teacher and the unique opportunity to transition the year 7 students into high school. In 2018 my journey in education continued within the Department for Education after winning a leadership position. Although being quite nervous starting in a new environment, it was an exciting time which provided many opportunities of growth within my leadership skills. This year I have been fortunate enough to win the position of Assistant Principal Years 7/8 at the Whyalla Secondary College. A once in a lifetime opportunity to re-shape an innovative learning environment fit for every Whyalla student for years to come.
Dianna Pickert - Assistant Principal of Years 9 and 10
Being in this role at the Whyalla Secondary College has me extremely excited. I am looking forward to the once in a lifetime opportunity of being a part of building a school from the ground up and giving each and every student the opportunity to thrive in a learning environment that they enjoy. This is such an exciting time for all of Whyalla.
I am a proud local Whyalla girl myself, having completed my schooling and university studies here. My first teaching position was at Memorial Oval Primary School in 2009 where I spent seven and a half years. Throughout these years I taught across all year levels as a classroom teacher, taught NIT PE and the Arts and also had some time running reading intervention programs for students. Later during 2016 I expanded my knowledge and skills by filling in as the counsellor for a term at Fisk Street Primary School before moving into secondary school in term 4 at Whyalla High School as the Differentiation Coordinator. In this position I taught students from years 8-10 english and mathematics in the schools Learning Centre. Part of the role was supporting staff with differentiation, ensuring that all students could access work at their level and be successful. In 2018 I became a Senior Leader, in 2019 an Assistant Principal and in 2020, the Deputy Principal. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning the secondary school curriculum, engaging with the older students and strengthening my skills and knowledge in this area. My true passions are student wellbeing, student attendance, and ensuring that everyone has learning tailored to their need in order to reach their desired pathway.
Makenzie Guthleben - Whyalla Secondary College
I am 21 years old who has lived in Whyalla most of my life. I attended Samaritan College for my middle and secondary education, graduating in 2016. Like most of my class mates I relocated to Adelaide to study, starting a Bachelor of Architecture at UniSA. I soon discovered that this was not something that I wished to purse anymore and relocated back to Whyalla.
In 2019 I won a position at Edward John Eyre High School (EJEHS) as the Student Pathways Trainee, while studying a Certificate III in Business Administration. In 2020 I won the SSO promotions role at EJEHS and had the opportunity to promote the excellent work and skills of students in and outside of school. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few years within the Department for Education and I am privileged to have won the role of the Executive Assistant of the Deputy and Assistant Principals for the Whyalla Secondary College. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the leaders to create an innovative and exciting new school.
Belinda McEvoy - Student Pathways Senior Leader
I am originally from Goolwa and moved to Adelaide to complete a double Degree in Human Movement through UniSA. I started teaching in 2012 at Edward John Eyre High School in the Physical Education and Home Economics faculties. I moved into a Career Development manager's position in Semester 2, 2015, and won a leadership position for Student Pathways the following year at Edward John Eyre High School. I have done the Student Pathways role for 5 years which has involved leadership in Career Development, VET, Transition Pathways, Work Placement, Subject Counselling, running HPE and Workplace Practices faculties, along with supporting SACE improvement and flexibilities. Under my time in leading the Student Pathways Team, we were privileged with the recognition of our hard work in leading change for students future pathways, by being Australia finalist in the Australian Training Awards for VET in schools in 2018 and winning the VET Innovation SA Training award in 2019. I also had the honour of presenting a workshop with my team at CEAV Australia wide conference in Melbourne, on Career Development strategic direction and the development of VET and Industry Pathways Programs.
Kylie Morris - EA to the Principal
Born in Adelaide and raised in Whyalla, my administration career has spanned more than 30 years, providing a comprehensive paraprofessional service to companies within the Whyalla community.
Educated at Memorial Oval Primary School and Whyalla High School, I initially entered into an office traineeship with BHP Steel. This opportunity led to various roles within BHP and OneSteel. I relinquished my role at OneSteel after accepting a position at Bureau Veritas. Then, whilst our children were young, my husband Dave and I embarked on a business venture.
In 2013 I commenced employment within the Department for Education, working for the Whyalla Secondary Alliance, then as Personal Assistant to the Principal at Edward John Eyre High School.
In October last year, I won the position of Executive Assistant to the Principal, Tricia Richman at the Whyalla Secondary College. To me, this opportunity marks the culmination of many years within my chosen profession.
Munsha Tatla - Senior Leader of Timetabling, Daily Organisation and School Operations
My name is Munsha Tatla and I am honoured and delighted to be the Senior Leader of Timetabling, Daily Organisation and School Operations at Whyalla Secondary College. I have been given a warm welcome, and the sense of community, connection, passion and enthusiasm for the school. It is a great privilege to be part of the founding team at the new School.
I have Master Degree in Science (M.Sc.) from Pakistan and Bachelor of Education Secondary (B.Ed) with Physics Major from University of South Australia and Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management from University of Adelaide. I was born and raised by a farming family in a country town of Pakistan. I am a fluent speaker of 4 languages; English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Arabic. I play Cricket, Volley ball and follow Port Adelaide in Australian football League.
Christina Nicholas - Deputy Principal
As Deputy Principal of Whyalla Secondary College, I am very passionate about providing a positive learning environment for our students, to develop skills for lifelong learning and endless possibilities post-school. I believe that social and emotional development is an important part this; I strive to ensure all of our students enjoy a promising school experience, and I am excited by the opportunities we can provide for our students here in Whyalla.
I graduated from the University of Adelaide, where I majored in English, History and Psychology. I have undertaken postgraduate programs in Adolescent Psychological Development, and Inclusive and Positive Education. I moved to Whyalla in 2015 from Lameroo Regional Community School, where I worked with students with complex needs in Special Inclusion.
More recently I have worked as a leader at Edward John Eyre High School, leading innovation in pedagogy. I have worked closely with the SACE board to coordinate an approach to learning that caters to the individual needs of students, and celebrates differentiated teaching approaches. I have collaborated with leaders and teachers to ensure flexibilities of learning and assessment is applied to subjects offered, which has seen an increase in high achievement in recent years. I'm excited to continue this increase in student engagement and learning achievement at Whyalla Secondary College.
Mandy Quinn - Business Leader
I have worked in the Department for Education for 15 years, during this time I have worked as a Curriculum Support SSO at Win Newby Kindergarten, Memorial Oval Primary School and Whyalla High School. During my time at Whyalla High School I moved into the Business Managers role which I thoroughly enjoyed. This position allowed me to be able to support the staff, students and families with the everyday running of the school and also with special events such as school musicals, camps and sporting events amongst many other things.
I feel very fortunate to be the Business Leader of the new Whyalla Secondary College, a position that I am very excited to hold.