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College Leadership
College Leadership Team
The Principal administers the College with the assistance of the College Leadership Team which is the Principal's major consultative and advisory group for educational and administrative decisions.
Responsibilities of the College Leadership Team include determining administrative policies and procedures throughout the College, planning and approving major school functions, events and activities, and approving and evaluating staff development and
Dr Sean Mangan
Principal
Dr Sean Mangan has held a number of senior leadership positions across Victoria and South Australia – both in Catholic and Independent settings. He has experience in a range of large schools – both coeducational and single-sex.
Beyond schools, Dr Mangan has experience working for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Board and Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) as a Senior Education Adviser (Data Analyst). Dr
Mangan holds a number of qualifications including a Doctorate of Education (University of Adelaide), Master of Education (Deakin University) and Bachelor of Education (University of Melbourne) along with a
Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education (University of South Australia). As a life-long learner, Dr Mangan believes that ongoing study, professional development and reading are essential for professional growth.
His current studies are through Torrens University with the Master of Business Administration Degree.
Dr Mangan has a particular interest in providing an engaging contemporary curriculum that caters for all student’s needs in the 21st century and has been involved in the successful implementation of Writing
Programs to help improve students’ Literacy outcomes. As a trained Mathematics and Information Technology teacher, Dr Mangan believes all students must aim to strive for academic excellence and
maintain a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle by participating in the life of the College through social justice/outreach opportunities and the co-curricular program.
Mr Brad Greene
Deputy Principal – Head of Senior Years
Mr Brad Greene graduated from Victoria College, Rusden Campus with a Bachelor of Education in 1985 majoring in Economics, Politics and Legal Studies. In 2012 Brad completed a Graduate Certificate of Catholic Education through James Cook University. He is also a qualified trainer and assessor having completed his Certificate IV in Training and Assessing through Bluedog Training. Brad has worked in a variety of Independent and Catholic college’s in Victoria and Queensland, as well as a period teaching in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Brad is an author of three business textbooks that have been used widely throughout schools in Queensland. From 2008 – 2013, Brad was appointed to the position of State Review Panel Chair for Business Organisation and Management by Queensland Studies Authority (now Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority – QCAA). In this role, Brad provided advice to schools about the implementation of the course of study developed from Authority syllabuses and school’s judgement about student achievement.
Brad is the founding Deputy Principal – Head of Seniors Years at St Andrew’s Catholic College and has been instrumental in the development of flexible pathways and the culture of academic excellence that permeates throughout the Senior College environment. Brad was responsible for attaining the College’s status as a Registered Training Organisation and is an active member of the Northern Beaches Parish.
Mrs Janelle Newman
Deputy Principal - Head of Middle Years
Mrs Janelle Newman has worked in secondary schools across Cairns since beginning her career as a teacher in 1987. During this time, she has held a variety of leadership roles in curriculum, pastoral care, learning enrichment, English as an additional Language, Middle Years education and Information Services.
Janelle holds a Diploma of Teaching – Secondary Mathematics & Science from Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Education – Literacy & Special Needs from University of Central Queensland, a Masters of Education from Queensland University of Technology, a Certificate III in Theology from the Institute of Faith Education and is a Middle Years of Schooling Training Facilitator through Deakin University.
In 2002, Janelle began her journey here at St Andrew’s as a member of the College Board – Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee. In 2003, she joined our staff as a Year 6 teacher and then led the development of the Middle Years Sector as Deputy Principal from 2005 until 2010. She has recently stepped back into this role after several years as Head of English and Head of Library & Information Services at the College.
Janelle has a passion for Middle Years education and the wellbeing of our young adolescents. She believes that during these challenging teenage years, students need a strong, consistent, engaging learning environment that fosters not only their academic success but also their resilience, wellbeing and growth as responsive, compassionate future citizens.
Mrs Kym Bennett
Deputy Principal – Head of Junior Years
Mrs Kym Bennett graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Teaching - Primary. Most of Kym’s 20 years of teaching experience has taken place in co-educational settings within primary schools
in the Catholic education system. Kym has worked in both the Cairns and Townsville Dioceses. She has taught in Atherton, Innisfail, Charters Towers, Townsville and Cairns.
Kym grew up locally, having attended St Thomas’ of Villanova Parish School in Mareeba for her primary education. She was then a student at the local high school before attending Australian Catholic University in Brisbane for her tertiary education.
Kym has a strong dedication to collaborative practice, curriculum design and student engagement. She works with the Junior Years staff to create a pedagogical framework that works in a primary setting within a P – 12 College. Kym strives to ensure that all students are provided with a nurturing environment, where each learner can expect to feel safe, happy and engaged with their learning.
In the Junior Years, the staff strive to provide a holistic education where the academic, emotional and spiritual elements of a child’s development are equally valued. The learning experiences provided for our students will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become the innovative thinkers and problem solvers in the 21st century while developing our learners’ soft skills and emotional intelligence to enable them to be positive and active participants in society.
Mrs Kate White
Assistant Principal - Administration
Mrs Kate White graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and a Bachelor of Education.
Kate has taught in Australia, England and Luxemburg. Most of her experience has been within the State Education system in QLD. Kate moved to the Catholic Education system taking on her role here at St Andrew’s College.
Education is the process where teachers facilitate learning, with the learner gaining knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits. The teacher demonstrates these skills through educational methods and in their everyday life. Effective education is a learning experience, and every day a person should learn.
Mrs Geraldine Simpson
Assistant Principal Religious Education – Junior Years
Mrs Simpson graduated from the University of Leicester in 2004 with a Bachelor of Education Studies with Law and Qualified Teacher Status. Geraldine (Gerri) taught at two schools in the UK before moving to Australia in 2007. She then taught at two schools in South Australia and was a member of the Leadership Team as the Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission at St Joseph’s P-12 Catholic School in Port Lincoln before moving to Cairns in 2012.
Gerri has been a member of the Leadership Team working as the Assistant Principal Religious Education - Junior Years at St Andrew’s Catholic College since 2012. She has her Graduate Certificate in Religious Education and is currently enrolled in a Master of Professional Studies in Theology at the Australian Catholic University.
Gerri plays a pivotal role in assisting staff with the vital work of Religious Education. She enriches the religious life of the college by focusing on religious identity and culture, promoting evangelisation and faith formation, encouraging active participation in prayer and worship and engaging with social action and justice. In addition, she is a great source of wisdom, expertise, experience and practical help.
Mr Michael Aitken
Assistant Principal Religious Education – Middle Years
Mr Michael Aitken graduated from Townsville College of Advanced Education in 1981 and is currently furthering his education in religious studies through James Cook University. Michael was born in Sydney and completed his education in several settings due to his father being a career military member. This involved living for some time overseas in Asia. Most of his training was in State-run schools with his senior years being in a Catholic College in Townsville. He is married and has three children and two grandchildren.
Michael has continuously served in educational environments throughout Queensland for 38 years. This has involved teaching roles in Primary and Secondary schools in both State education and Private and Catholic educational settings. He has worked in the capacity of the class teacher, House Coordinator, Head of Department, Year Level Coordinator, Deputy Principal and Principal in rural, remote, regional and urban educational settings.
Michael chose to leave a 22-year career in State Education when he was Principal of Tully State School to pursue a calling of Religious teaching life in Catholic education; he feels that he has now really found his vocation. Michael is dedicated to building an active religious life within our Catholic schools and feels honoured to have been given the opportunity to have had an experience of service to children and community. He believes that teaching is not a job but a lifestyle.
Miss Angela Collins
Assistant Principal Religious Education – Senior Years
Miss Angela Collins has been teaching since 2004 in various Catholic schools. During this time, Angela has held a variety of leadership roles in both curriculum and pastoral care, including Head of Department for Religion, and Health and Physical Education, as well as Head of House. She has also acted as Assistant Principal - Religious Education and Assistant Principal - Student Welfare.
Angela has a passion for social justice and through this has developed overseas immersion programs in developing countries in her previous schools and will continue this at St Andrew’s. She has developed a great relationship with several schools in New Ireland and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea teaching there between 2017 and 2018. This relationship began in 2007 when she was involved in a teacher immersion. In 2009, Angela taught in the United Kingdom.
Angela has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement Studies)/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and a Masters in Religious Education.
Angela has always been an active parishioner in the Catholic Church, through a variety of ministries at Mass as well as serving on Parish Pastoral Councils.
Mrs Tanya Hastings
Head of Corporate Services
Mrs Tanya Hastings graduated from James Cook University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting. She has since completed post-graduate qualifications to become a Certified Practising Accountant, has completed a Diploma in Leadership and Management and also a Certificate IV in Workplace, Health and Safety. Having worked as a Management Accountant for the past 15 years in both Public Accounting Forms and also Public service organisations including health, local government and also education. Tanya’s most recent role was as a Business Manager within Education Queensland for the past eight years, before joining the College as the Head of Corporate Services in February 2020.
She is passionate about providing excellent service to the students, parents, staff, and members of the College community through developing and supporting a capable and diverse Corporate Services team.
Tanya also holds a position as an Officer within the Australian Air Force Cadets and has been involved with youth development with the cadets for almost 15 years as a staff member. During this time, she has held many positions within the local units but most recently has been involved as the Finance Officer for Aviation Operations Wing focused on providing low cost flying training to cadets across Australia.
