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ELC & Junior School

Anna Owen

Principal

BSc, GradDipEd, MSc, MBA (candidate)

Anna graduated from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Science in 1993. She went on to complete a Masters of Science with Distinction at Curtin University, an intensive management course at Stanford University and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration. She has extensive experience working in executive and senior management positions in schools. She held the position of Deputy at Brisbane Girls Grammar School for five years before commencing at Canberra Girls Grammar School in January 2019.

Angela Whitaker

Head of Junior School

BEd, MEd, MA, DipT

Angela has qualifications in education from the University of South Australia and Flinders University and has had extensive experience teaching from Prep to senior secondary school in both national and international settings. Particular areas of interest are school improvement, global citizenship, Positive Education and developing learning communities especially with regards to promoting growth mindset and developing resilience in students and staff. She is also passionate about play as a framework for learning, and promoting inquiry play in the early years of schooling.

Peter McDonald

Director of Junior School

MEd, PGradCertEd (Maths), BEd, MACEL

Peter is an experienced primary educator, teaching across upper and lower primary year levels both in Australia and internationally. He has held various school leadership positions, including leading the International Baccalaureate PYP at Radford College in Canberra. As a specialist mathematics teacher, Peter holds a keen interest in supporting students to develop a passion for learning and using mathematics.

Prue Sheargold

Director of Junior School

BEd, Dip Ed, MACEL

Prue has over 25 years’ experience as an educator, working in a variety of school settings with diverse communities. Prue is passionate about Wellbeing, Positive Education and the importance of creating teaching and learning environments that enable both students and teachers to be healthy, happy and engaged. Prue completed her initial studies at the Australian Catholic University and is currently completing her Masters in Educational Leadership.

Kate Columbine

BECE (Honours), BSCH (Psychology)

Director of Junior School

Kate has extensive experience in early childhood education, both as a classroom teacher and in leadership positions. Kate’s passion is in supporting children and families as they step outside of their family nucleus and into the larger school community. Creating and early childhood setting that is welcoming, supportive and stimulating is central to this transition. Kate is a passionate PYP educator and revels in exploring inquiry-based learning experiences with children and educators. As an IB Workshop Leader, she also embraces opportunities to collaborate with the wider PYP Early Years community.

Alex Galland

Director of Learning and Innovation (Junior School)

BA, DipEd, MEd, LTCL, MACEL

Alex has degrees from the University of Sydney and the University of Southern Queensland. She has extensive experience in both primary and secondary settings, including a variety of leadership positions. Alex is passionate about working with teachers to ensure a rigorous, engaging and inquiry-based curriculum. She has a particular interest in the authentic integration of technology, and has presented at many national and international conferences.