We’d like to introduce Simone Sawiris, Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning.

Prior to returning to Santa Maria, Simone held the position of Head of Science at Aquinas College, having previously held the same position at Santa Maria College. Simone has a wealth of leadership experience in both the pastoral and curriculum domains. She has held the following leadership positions:

• Head of House/House Coordinator
• Head of Year
• Head of Science
• Acting Deputy Principal
• Added to this, Simone has worked as a sessional lecturer for the University of Notre Dame Australia between 2011- 2016. Her area of expertise was in Science Teaching Methods.

Recent career highlights include:

• Teacher Leader Award for Excellence given by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders
• Catholic Education (WA) – Established Leaders Program.
• STEM initiatives and the development of new electives in science at Santa Maria College including: Year 8 Science Quest, Year 9 Marine Science and Year 10 BrainSTEM.
• A significant contributor to the design of the new Science building at Santa Maria College that was opened in 2015.

We are excited to have Simone back at Santa Maria College.

Following on from our Question and Answer series with Heads of Learning Areas in 2017, we asked Simone to share a little about herself.

What inspires you as a teacher?  
Seeing students link their scientific learning with their real-world experiences. The, ‘Is that why……..’ questions bring me much joy as a teacher! And having a laugh and a chat with my students along the way.

What are some of the other schools you have taught at?
Prendiville Catholic College, Aquinas College

What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in education over the years?
A greater focus on student/teacher partnerships for learning and students being more proactive in their learning. Digital technologies used to support learning in all subjects.

What is something not many people know about you?
Being on staff at Santa for 15 years already, there is not too much, but many families would not know that I have 8-year-old twin boys, two dogs (a Staffy and a French bulldog) and a husband, who all keep me on my toes.

What excites you the most about your new position?
The opportunity to help develop capacity in staff and students within the College and working in an environment that is nurturing, inspiring and dynamic, all at the same time.

How do you relax?
Walking my dogs or enjoying my husband’s delicious cooking with my family and friends.

Favorite quote?
‘What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson