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.

 

 

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.

 

 

Candice Matthews
Staff Representative
Joined School Board 2024

 

I am a proud Wongi woman from Kalgoorlie and have felt welcomed and honoured to be working on Noongar boodja. Currently, I serve as the Follow the Dream Coordinator for the Great Southern region, based at ASHS. Before this role, I dedicated myself to teaching Humanities and Social Science in Albany and Karratha.

 

As an Aboriginal person, I understand the significance of community in shaping a student's sense of belonging and success. This understanding is what drives my commitment to serving on the school board. The school board provides a unique avenue for me to actively build relationships with the local community, ensuring their voices and perspectives are heard and respected in educational decision-making processes at our school.

 

In my role as the Follow the Dream Coordinator, I connect with many institutions to provide opportunities for Aboriginal students, such as job opportunities, cultural experiences, and the arts. For this to be successful I need parents to be involved, engaged and feel connected to the school, and I need students to feel like each of these stakeholders is there for them. Through my position on the school board, I hope to support the school in developing these connections to benefit our students and community.

 

I am looking forward to working with the school board to achieve the best outcomes for our students.

 

 

Kleo Proudfoot                                                       
School Captain

Student Representative
School Board 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Smith
School Captain

Student Representative
School Board 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claire Boujos
Community Representative
Joined School Board 2023

Deputy Chairperson since April 2024

 

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 2023

 

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.

 

Susan Morrow

Parent Representative

Joined School Board 2023

Chairperson since April 2024

 

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.

 

 

Roslyn Holmes
Parent Representative
Joined School Board 2024

 

I was born an Albany resident and attended Albany SHS from 1990 – 1995. A keen sports person (I may still hold an Albany SHS record), I moved to Perth to attend University and graduated in Architecture with Hons in 2000.

 

After University, I travelled overseas and worked in various places from 2001 to 2007 before returning to Albany in 2007. After my return, I worked for various architectural practices until 2011, when I took over the firm Holmes Architects. I have two children; one commenced Year 7 in 2024, and the other commences high school in 2027.

 

I am interested in leadership and governance and have been involved in various organisations over the past 17 years in Albany, both in Business and Sports. I have been designing educational buildings in Albany and various small schools around the southwest. I interacted highly with the Grammar School Board when designing their middle school, gymnasium, music building and art & technology buildings in 2007 - 2010. Focusing more on family for the past ten years, I have been running my Architectural practice and undertaking smaller projects.

 

Hobbies outside of work mainly involve kid's sports. However, I enjoy photography, outdoor adventure, reading, and learning about new ideas, and I am a fan of TED talks.

 

Having a history of attending Albany SHS but a passion for new ideas, I want to see a balance of tradition and innovation. I have connections with the local business community and a passion for creating great spaces for students to learn. I want to see all students achieve to their best abilities and would love to be able to be involved at a governance level to help achieve this. I will focus on ensuring all students strive to achieve their personal best and are nurtured to do so.

 

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.

Lennon Swann

Parent Representative

Joined School Board 2023

 

I am the eldest of five siblings, so it’s little wonder that education has become my career. After growing up on All Creatures Great and Small and holidays to the family farm in Mount Barker, I always wanted to be a veterinarian.  However, the lack of study habits and determination in my teenage years didn’t help me to achieve the TEE (old person’s version of ATAR) score required. Thankfully, I chose to complete a Bachelor of Primary Education. As my Nan used to say, being a teacher allows you to be Peter Pan at heart.

 

After teaching positions in Newman and Collie, I was fortunate to win a position in Albany.  This beautiful city has always been home to me.  I have had family living in Albany for over 100 years and always wanted to live here.  My wife and I are blessed to have watched our two children enjoying the outdoor pursuits available in Albany.

 

As a parent representative on the ASHS Board, I aim to use my experience as a teacher and parent to help maximise the learning opportunities for our children.  I worked for five years at Mount Barker Community College, and I believe that this will be useful for assisting parents and students adjusting from primary to secondary education.

 

 

Mark Toohey

Parent Representative

Joined School Board 2024

 

I am Mark Toohey. I am grateful and honoured to be an Albany SHS board member. After serving 9 years in the Army (RAEME) and 27 years in telecommunications project management across 54 countries, I have returned to Albany to give my family a stable life in this beautiful place.

 

I bring diverse experiences and skills to the table. I've served in various leadership roles throughout my career, including General Manager, Chief Technology Officer, Project Manager and Operations Executive. These roles have honed my strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities and instilled in me a deep understanding of organisational dynamics and effective decision-making.

 

On a personal note, my wife and I have twins who attend Albany SHS. At this point in my career I have the flexibility to dedicate myself to some community service through this role and Albany Sea Rescue.

 

As I learn more about this great school I hope that my experience and commitment to our community will make me a valuable asset to the Albany SHS board. I am eager to collaborate with fellow board members, educators, families, and students as a representative of all parents.

 

I invite parents to contact me for any reason and I will do my best to assist.