Annette Rome, Principal, St Margaret's School and Berwrick Grammar School
In just 18 months at St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar, principal Annette Rome has already established the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, which links staff to professional learning and research they can use to make a meaningful impact to teaching and learning. The centre, along with the school’s Victorian School for the Performing Arts, hosts the Unicorn Series, which brings together the broader community, academics, students and parents to discuss topics such as ‘What Makes a Good Teacher?’ and ‘Happy to Learn, Learning to be Happy: Wellbeing and Learning’. This series has prompted a regular appearance on local radio, which has made the educational discussions informative and accessible to the broader public.
As a previous president of the Australian College of Educators (Vic), Rome has supported new teachers through presentations and individual mentoring, all on a voluntary basis. She also has worked with the Principals Australia Institute to refine the principal certification process, which certified the first principals in 2018.