Despite these challenging times, the Board has finalised its recruitment process for the permanent Head of School at Shearwater. It has been a privilege to contribute to this process and on behalf of the Board I am pleased to announce that an appointment has been made.
James Goodlet will commence as Shearwater's Head of School in Term 3. James has worked in the Education sector since 1991. His first involvement with Steiner Education was as a parent in 1996, later becoming involved as a Board member and then as a teacher from 2007. James completed a Class Teacher cycle at Blue Mountains Steiner School before moving into a leadership role at Orana Steiner School. In 2015 James was appointed Principal of Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School.
The recruitment panel was impressed by the authenticity that came through in James’ application and interview. He responded to challenging questions with humor, warmth, insight and from personal perspective obviously honed through a breadth and depth of relevant experience.
James has a deeply embedded and practically expressed interest in the natural world, working as an outdoor education teacher (and spending a year building a mud brick house!) prior to joining the Waldorf world.
James carries a strong appreciation for the importance of engaging young people with place in innovative and authentic ways, and Shearwater’s solid reputation in this field was one reason for James’ interest in joining our community. James also expressed that he was very drawn to Shearwater’s mission statement, in particular the quest to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world through love in action.
The Board is confident that these personal and professional qualities will enable James to successfully and positively work with, contribute to and be supported by the existing strength and experience that makes Shearwater the creative and living school it is. I trust that you will all welcome James into the Shearwater family when he commences with us.
Dee Lerch
Board Chair
James Goodlet will commence as Shearwater's Head of School in Term 3. James has worked in the Education sector since 1991. His first involvement with Steiner Education was as a parent in 1996, later becoming involved as a Board member and then as a teacher from 2007. James completed a Class Teacher cycle at Blue Mountains Steiner School before moving into a leadership role at Orana Steiner School. In 2015 James was appointed Principal of Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School.
The recruitment panel was impressed by the authenticity that came through in James’ application and interview. He responded to challenging questions with humor, warmth, insight and from personal perspective obviously honed through a breadth and depth of relevant experience.
James has a deeply embedded and practically expressed interest in the natural world, working as an outdoor education teacher (and spending a year building a mud brick house!) prior to joining the Waldorf world.
James carries a strong appreciation for the importance of engaging young people with place in innovative and authentic ways, and Shearwater’s solid reputation in this field was one reason for James’ interest in joining our community. James also expressed that he was very drawn to Shearwater’s mission statement, in particular the quest to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world through love in action.
The Board is confident that these personal and professional qualities will enable James to successfully and positively work with, contribute to and be supported by the existing strength and experience that makes Shearwater the creative and living school it is. I trust that you will all welcome James into the Shearwater family when he commences with us.
Dee Lerch
Board Chair