The School Board plays a pivotal role in the governance and communication processes of our school, serving as a conduit between the school administration, parents, and the broader community. For more information about School Boards in WA Public Schools refer to the following link: School councils and boards - Department of Education.
The current school board members are listed below. If you would like to learn more about the Responsibilities and Functions of a Board Member, refer to this link:
Responsibilities of Council/Boards Members and School Council/Boards.
School Board Members
Melissa Walker
Principal
Joined School Board 2021
I am deeply honoured to be the Principal of Albany SHS. Having previously been a Head of Learning Area (HOLA) at ASHS back in 2003, this school and its community have always held a special place in my heart and mind. Returning to Albany feels like a homecoming, and I consider it a privilege to make this beautiful region my permanent residence.
My journey in public education spans several decades, and my unwavering passion lies in education, particularly innovative and effective teaching. I find immense pride and joy in witnessing students achieve their learning goals and reach their full potential. Over the past 17 years, since my previous role at Albany SHS, I have assumed leadership roles in various educational institutions across Western Australia.
My leadership experience includes positions such as Deputy and Principal at East Kimberley College and Halls Creek District High School, as well as stints at Newton Moore Senior High School, Wongan Hills District High School, Narrogin Senior High School, and the Western Australian College of Agriculture - Narrogin. These experiences have enriched my understanding of education at different levels and provided valuable insights into creating successful learning environments.
One of the fundamental lessons I have learned throughout my career is the importance of building strong working relationships and partnerships with parents and the community. Collaboration between school, home, and community is essential in providing the support necessary for our students to excel and achieve personal excellence. I firmly believe that the School Board plays a pivotal role in ensuring that we remain committed to our journey of success, continuously striving to meet the diverse needs of all our students and improve their educational outcomes.
I am immensely grateful for the dedication and hard work of volunteers on our School Board. Your commitment to our school's vision and strategic direction is invaluable, and together, we can work towards creating an environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
I look forward to working closely with the entire Albany SHS community, students, parents, staff, and the School Board as we embark on this journey to provide our students the best possible education and support. With your collective effort and dedication, I am confident that Albany SHS will continue to be a beacon of excellence in education.
Natalie Jarvis
Chairperson and Parent Representative
Joined School Board 2020
I was born in Perth but grew up on the Northern NSW coast and moved back to Perth for University in 2002. I moved to Albany 6 years ago to study and have been actively involved in the Albany community since moving here. I have Bachelor of Communications (Film), Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary), Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Counselling, currently studying my Certificate IV in Mental Health. I sit on the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group for my workplace as well as an Albany Pride committee member and facilitate Spectrum Under 25 LGBTIQA+ group.
I am an Albany representative in the state roller derby committee Derby West. I have been involved in the Albany Family and Domestic Violence Action Group, No Lights No Lyrca and through my work the Mental Health Week - Mad Hatters Tea Party event for the past 6 years. I have been involved with Albany Roller Derby since its inception in 2014 and have captained the team to Bronze in the State Tournament in 2019. Making Albany the highest ranked regional team in Western Australia. I have also been involved with the creation of the only purpose-built roller derby venue in Australia, The Track, that is managed 100% by volunteers from the league as well as running low-cost roller sports programs for children and teenagers 7 - 17 as well as coaching adults in roller derby and roller sports programs for the past 5 years.
Nina Goodwin
Staff Representative
Joined School Board 2022
I joined Albany SHS in 2021 as a teacher in Humanities and Social Science and, in 2022, became the school's Career Practitioner. Prior to this, I taught at a Perth Metropolitan school and at Narrogin Senior High School. Before moving into the education sector, I worked as a solicitor in Perth in community legal, dealing with diverse socio-economic challenges. This experience has been a driving force in forming my teaching philosophy: to support young people to become empowered, active, and informed citizens who contribute positively to their community.
As Career Practitioner, I have the unique opportunity to foster positive change in the lives of young people in our community. I am passionate about supporting teachers to provide career education in the classroom. As educators, we must make evident the link between classroom learning and its relevance to the real world. We need to provide students with reliable, up-to-date and unbiased information to allow them to build agency when planning their transition from school to work.
A key driver of my work will be to foster ongoing relationships with industry and our school. Allowing students to connect with employers and the world of work. Working with our school community and key stakeholders, I believe we can ensure that every student is on a pathway to success.
I look forward to working collaboratively with our school board to drive career education at Albany SHS.
Claire Boujos
Community Representative
Joined School Board 2020
For the past ten years, my work as a Designer and Architect has been focused on the areas of education, community consultation and heritage, with the aim to improve the community and educational facilities. I believe that listening to community and client needs forms the basis of a great and successful outcome.
I have had the opportunity to work with local communities throughout WA, providing support in regards to the conservation of culturally significant places in both the natural and built environment. I am passionate about assisting communities in achieving project outcomes that improve their circumstances and lives and find it particularly rewarding to assist our Great Southern schools improve their learning facilities.
Supporting and participating in community activities is specifically important to me, and I currently volunteer at the Rainbow Coast Toy Library.
Albany SHS is such a prestigious Albany institution and landmark, and it is an honour to be on the Board, and assist with directing the school’s facilities to a bright future.
Ezra McGregor
Community Representative
Joined School Board 2020
I'm Ezra McGregor, and I've had the privilege of serving as a Community Representative on the Albany SHS Board. My journey with the Albany SHS board began during my tenure as a school captain in 2022, where I first developed a passion for advocating for student needs and fostering a supportive educational environment.
Outside of my board responsibilities, I've pursued an Information Technology (IT) career. Following a vocational pathway, I obtained a certificate in Information Technology as a student. This educational pursuit laid the foundation for my current role as an IT Support Officer for the City of Albany. Through my professional experience, I've gained valuable insights into leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and support community initiatives.
As a Community Representative on the Albany SHS Board, my primary focus is student success and well-being. I am deeply committed to ensuring that every student at ASHS has access to the support they need for their mental health and academic achievement. This commitment extends to reviewing and refining the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program. I aim to contribute to continuously improving strategies designed to support students in their personal and academic growth.
My dedication to the ASHS community stems from a genuine desire to empower students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. I firmly believe that prioritising student well-being and fostering a supportive educational environment, we can create a positive impact that extends far beyond the classroom.
As a Community Representative, I remain committed to collaborating with fellow board members, school administrators, and community stakeholders to enact meaningful change and ensure the continued success of Albany Senior High School.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our school community, and I look forward to contributing to a bright and promising future for Albany SHS and its students.
Kirrilly Lindberg
Parent Representative
Joined School Board 2023
I’m a local, growing up on a farm in the Kendenup area and moving to Albany for further education in the 90s. I’ve lived in the region, in roughly 5 year cycles, ever since. This is Home.
Spanning decades, I have an extensive history with volunteer committees, including Mt Barker Ag Society, various play groups, several Primary School P & C’s, and two previous Primary School boards.
I have two local businesses involved with cooking with/for families in their homes, which allows me flexibility in the time I’m available for attending school events and meetings, much to the embarrassment of my teenagers.
Our youngest child just started high school this year, our 3rd who's been a student at Albany SHS since we moved back in 2018. I want to help shape the facilities and social-emotional environment so that she and her fellow students leave with fond memories of their years at Albany SHS.
Wendy Miell
Parent Representative
Joined School Board 2023
Born and bred a country girl in the Southeast of South Australia (SA), I have been affiliated with country schools in one way or another my whole life – as a student, as an ancillary staff member (both in the classroom and in the front office), and as a parent supporting our own children’s schools in various voluntary roles!
After 15+ years of working in administration and classroom support roles in small schools in SA, our family made the very calculated decision to move across the Nullarbor to take on some amazing farming land in the stunning Great Southern region of WA!
During this move, I obtained an administration role at Albany SHS, where I worked the next six years in various front office positions – some Albany SHS parents may recall my name on school emails when I was in the role of Public Relations through Connect and Compass notifications forwarded to families!! We also have a daughter attending Albany SHS as a Year 11 student who is heavily involved in and loving the Music program.
My depth of involvement across various schools gives me a detailed and well-rounded understanding of how a school operates! I appreciate the learning environment created, the teamanship involved, the support provided, and the dedication required to run a successful school. I appreciate the priorities the current Albany SHS Leadership Team and staff are focusing on and the goals they are working towards.
I am proud to be part of the ASHS School Board. Their commitment to working with the school’s leadership staff and helping to guide the school in a positive direction for building on improvement and growth into the future is admirable.
I look forward to supporting the School Board in this growth to help align with the school’s core beliefs, values, and its strategic direction priorities.
Susan Morrow
Parent Representative
Joined School Board 2023
I'm honoured to have been accepted onto the board as a parent representative in 2023. I was born and raised on a farm in the Porogurups and am the youngest member of a family of five. I am a mother of a 16-year-old daughter and have lived in Albany throughout my life. I love travelling with my daughter and enjoy learning about different cultures and meeting new and interesting people.
I worked in retail, sales and marketing, and promotions when I was younger. I have enjoyed a variety of roles, including store management, employment recruitment with ADECO in Perth, business ownership, and as an advertising salesperson for HotFM/6VA here in Albany. Later in my life, I completed my Teaching Degree, which has allowed me to work at various regional schools, including as a Year 2/3 teacher and mathematics teacher at Mount Barker Community College and as a mathematics teacher here at ASHS. I am currently working as a classroom teacher at Albany Secondary Education Support Center, which has my heart. I have worked in this role for four years.
I am passionate about being an active community member, and I find joy in volunteering. Some of my volunteer roles have been as the president of the MBCC P&Cs, the President of the Mt Barker Toy Library and the Mt Barker Playgroup, and more recently as a Blue Barret for Albany's Cinefest. I enjoy working as part of a team and assisting where I can.
As a board member, I look forward to representing ASHS in a positive way to the community whilst also being able to learn about and share the school's many successes.
@ 2023 Albany Senior High School