PAUL Bancroft, OAM, has been named an Education Queensland principal of the year after 28 years in Cleveland District State High School’s top job.
He was announced as the regional Griffith University Jack Pizzey award winner late last month after colleagues nominated him for the accolade.
The award was shared with Yeronga State High School principal Terry Heath, who won the metropolitan division.
An Education Queensland spokesperson said both men were chosen from a statewide pool of applicants for the prize, which included $1200 professional development gifts to each.
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“There was a total of 114 submissions received across all (11) categories and Paul was selected from a very worthy group of Queensland state school principal nominations,” the spokesperson said.
“Paul has delivered initiatives that have lifted student achievements, built teaching capacity and created quality language and cultural experiences from prep to year 12 and into the community.”
Lessons in French, Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian and Quandamooka language Jandai, along with Latin on occasion, have all been delivered at the school under Mr Bancroft’s watch.
Mr Bancroft has also helped feeder primary schools teach Asian language studies, with partnerships forged at international sister schools and the local community.
Mr Bancroft, who was honoured by the recognition, said the accolade was testament to the hard work of his staff.
“It is recognition of the great work people do at Cleveland District State High School, in particular with promoting languages,” he said.
The principal of the year award is named after former Queensland premier, education minister and teacher Jack Pizzey, who championed high school and tertiary education.
Mr Pizzey made high school education available to all by scrapping entrance exams.
He also boosted government funding to schools and helped establish James Cook University and extra teachers’ colleges in Brisbane.
The Education Queensland spokesperson said state finalists for the Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools would be announced later this month, with state winners named in October at a gala dinner in Brisbane.
When news of Mr Bancroft’s award broke on the school’s Facebook page, Mr Bancroft responded to well-wishers in writing that he loved his job.
Major achievements at Cleveland District State High School include:
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Authorisation 2016
- School Excellence in Global Education Award 2016
- Council of International Schools re-accreditation 2016
- Introduction on Jandai language elective for Indigenous students
- Commitment to Global Perspectives implementation Years 7 to 12
- Asian Education Centre accreditation
- $2.2 million Community Languages Centre
- Established Confucius Classroom
- Introduced annual school multicultural festival
- Successful introduction of Mandarin to Redlands Bayside Cluster schools
- Australasian Schools Accreditation
- Introduced languages into 10 Redlands state primary schools
- 10 formal sister schools agreements
- Over 35 domestic and overseas partnerships
