Exceptional Leadership Skills Recognised with Principals Scholarship

The Public Education Foundation and Teachers Mutual Bank are proud to announce the NSW recipients of the 2022 Principals Scholarships. These two outstanding principals will undertake a professional education program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that is specifically designed to strengthen the skills of educational leaders.

The winning NSW Principals are:

• Teachers Mutual Bank Principals Scholarship: Belinda Giudice, Prairiewood High School, NSW
• Public Education Foundation Principals Scholarship: Michael Sloan, Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High Campus, NSW

Teachers Mutual Bank Limited’s Chief Marketing Officer, Nichole Banks, said: “We are thrilled to provide significant professional development opportunities for high calibre principals like Belinda Giudice through the Teachers Mutual Bank Principals Scholarship. The important impact principals have on their school and the community is clear. We strongly believe the educational benefits of attending a prestigious university such as Harvard will have a lasting impact not only on the principal but on their students, school and the community. Belinda Giudice is a passionate advocate for public education and she relishes the opportunity to hone her leadership skills to create transformational change. We look forward to seeing what learnings Belinda takes away from her Harvard experience.”

NSW Education Department Secretary Georgina Harrisson said it was wonderful to see NSW principals from the city and country represented in the announcement of this year’s scholarship winners.

“During challenging times for the education sector it is wonderful to celebrate two fabulous leaders and my congratulations go out to Belinda Giudice and Michael Sloan on being awarded Harvard scholarships,” Ms Harrisson said.

We are extremely proud that two of the three scholarship winners are from NSW public schools. The fact one is from Sydney and the other regional NSW not only highlights the quality of our school leaders across the State but shows that location is no barrier to success in a teaching career.

At Prairiewood High School, Belinda Giudice and her staff have emerged from a difficult few years that included a number of student deaths and being part of the hard lockdown during the COVID pandemic to celebrate the school’s best HSC outcomes in its history.

It is a tribute of Belinda’s leadership that she has maintained a dedicated focus on leading learning as the school’s core business while wrapping wellbeing supports around the school to heal a significantly damaged school community.

Michael Sloan has similarly used a focus on staff and student wellbeing and data-informed practice at Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High Campus to create a culture of inclusion and connection where learning is valued.

Under Michael’s leadership the school’s reputation has improved markedly, while its academic results are being transformed.”

Belinda Giudice says of her scholarship, “To be awarded a Principal’s Scholarship by a panel of peers in my seventh year of substantive Principalship across two school communities is deeply humbling, captivating and stimulating. I am the first in my family to complete year 12 and attend university, so to be selected to travel overseas to the world’s most prestigious university for on-campus learning is truly exciting. I acknowledge and thank the Teachers Mutual Bank for this scholarship.”

Public Education Foundation scholarship winner Michael Sloan commented “It is a great honour just to be nominated for a scholarship of this magnitude, let alone to be one of two NSW principals to be awarded the scholarship. Harvard is one of the finest universities in the world, with an excellent Graduate School of Education.  As a lifelong learner, it is an amazing opportunity to learn from and with international colleagues to improve my knowledge and practice. The prospect of visiting Boston and attending the program at Harvard is very exciting.”

“Principals lead the front line of our public education system, and we are delighted to be able to support the professional development of some of the best,” said David Hetherington, PEF’s Executive Director. “Belinda and Michael have proven outstanding leaders, and we are delighted to see them access to this incredible opportunity at Harvard.”

Each Principals Scholarship is valued at approximately $16,000 and includes program tuition for one of two prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education programs:

• Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership; or
• Leadership: An Evolving Vision

Teachers Mutual Bank (TMB) came to life in 1966 when a group passionate teachers, with the shared vision to give educators and their families’ better financial options, held their first meeting as a credit union. Over 50 years on TMB has grown to one of the largest mutual banks in the country with over $9 billion in assets and over 210,000 members. However, one thing has remained constant, the Bank’s commitment to supporting its members and creating opportunities for teachers and the education community to flourish. www.tmbank.com.au

Public Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to students and educators in public education, and enhancing the value and reputation of public education. www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au

For more information please contact: Miriam Valero, Public Education Foundation
Tel: 0452 653 381 | Email: miriam@publiceducationfoundation.org.au