Passing the Baton at St Andrew’s Anglican College
An award-winning local college is entering a new era. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers how the outgoing principal’s legacy has paved the way for an exciting new chapter filled with innovation, promise and opportunity.
St Andrew’s Anglican College in Peregian Springs was founded in 2003, and Principal Reverend Chris Ivey has been at its helm since 2007 – so it’s safe to say that, after 18 years in the role, his leadership is woven into the very fabric of this award-winning educational institution. But this January, he’ll be passing the baton on to new Principal Karen Gorrie, who has worked in the education sector for more than 30 years and will be joining the school from St Margaret’s Anglican College in Brisbane, where she served as Deputy Principal for seven years.Chris has been a hugely influential leader in the school community and the educational landscape of the Sunshine Coast, and his many years of service leave an enduring legacy that’s being celebrated by students, staff and alumni as he moves to his new role as Headmaster of Somerset College on the Gold Coast. St Andrew’s Anglican College was a very different place when Chris started back in 2007.
“I was excited by the energy,” he recalled. “It was young, growing and evolving, and the staff had what we called a ‘pioneering spirit’. My vision from day one was to make this an incredible school, to build on the foundations of such a positive culture, knowing that this enabled students to thrive. I was also looking forward to a new challenge, and to living in a beautiful place while we raised our family of four children.”
Fast-forward to today and St Andrew’s is highly regarded as an example of educational excellence, not just on the Sunshine Coast, but throughout Australia – having won numerous awards, most recently Secondary School of the Year (non-government) at the Australian Education Awards, the leading independent awards event in the K-12 education sector. While the school itself has evolved dramatically during this time, Chris’ educational philosophy remains true.
“I still believe that relationships are core to all we do – you can’t teach, encourage or have a difficult conversation with a student if you don’t have some form of relationship with them,” he said. “Sure, the world has changed in 18 years and post-COVID we are seeing an increase in challenges regarding mental health and social media, but people still have a basic need to be known and respected.”
It’s a philosophy that resonates strongly with incoming Principal Karen Gorrie, who’s excited to build on Chris’ legacy of community and connection.
“I genuinely believe students want to be ‘noticed’” she said. “I think that in an age where more and more people interact on devices, it is important to build a culture that ensures people are truly engaging with each other, whether it’s in the classroom or outside.
“I would like to ensure that every student feels they have a voice and a role to play in our school’s success.”
For Karen, a huge part of achieving this will be collaborative growth.
“A strong school culture is one where students, teachers and staff work together as a team, continuously learning from each other,” she enthused.
“I like to encourage open communication where teachers share best practices, students feel comfortable asking questions, and families are engaged partners in the education of their children.”
From his many happy years at the college, there are a few key memories of student achievement and personal growth that stick out for Chris.
“I’ll never forget the achievements of our Kokoda Challenge teams – to see them training over many months and finishing the race in around nine hours was impressive,” he said. “In terms of academic achievements, I taught a Year 10 English class in 2011 and one young man had so much potential but was wasting his time. I remember telling him how successful he could be if he made some better choices, and when he walked out of here in Year 12 having achieved great results, I was so proud.
“I also recall the year we beat Matthew Flinders Anglican College at the Eisteddfod! The concert band worked hard for many years to try and when they won that accolade, it was great to see the hard work and dedication pay off.”
Reflecting on how his leadership has impacted the school’s community over the years, Chris said he was proud of how he has helped take St Andrew’s to the next level.
“We’ve gone from a small start-up school to an award-winning institution that’s recognised around the country,” he said. “All I can hope for is that my leadership has encouraged others to strive for, and achieve, great things.”
As the new school year approaches, incoming principal Karen is excited to hit the ground running and add her own distinctive perspective to guide the college’s growth and evolution.
“I loved my own school experience – I had some inspirational teachers myself, and I think I learnt early on that I liked people and always wanted to have a positive and inspiring impact on them,” she said.
“St Andrew’s is such a wonderful college with a supportive and engaged community. As I step into the role of principal, one of my key goals is to build on the positive relationships and sense of community that already exists within the school. I want to continue fostering a culture where students, staff, and families feel valued, supported and empowered.”
