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Biography: Dr Barbara Watterston

by brendanu — last modified 18 August 2005, 02.44PM

Work History

Has over 25 years experience in education. During that time has led a number of school leadership positions, including principal and deputy, in rural and metropolitan areas:

  • Commenced teaching at North Kalgoorlie Primary School in 1981.
  • Other teaching appointments included North Inglewood PS, Nedlands PS, East Maylands PS, Glenorchy PS and Dalwallinu DHS.
  • Went on exchange to British Columbia in Canada in 1987.
  • 1995 Principal (merit selection Level 3) at Wubin Primary School.
  • 1996 Deputy Principal (Merit Selection Level 3) Dalwallinu DHS K-10 and K-3 School Development Officer at Moora District Education Office.
  • 1997 Key Teacher (merit Selection) West Leederville Primary School.1998 – 2001 Director of Professional Development and International Projects, Fremantle Education Centre.
  • 2002 – 2005 General Manager, Government Schools Leadership Centre.

Tertiary and Post Graduate Education

  • 1981 Bachelor of Teaching (WACAE) with majors in Language Arts, Expressive Arts and Skills, Media and Literature.
  • 1984 Obtained Bachelor of Education (WACAE) with majors in language, reading and ESL.
  • 1994 Master of Education Administration (Curtin University).
  • 2005 Obtained Doctor of Education (University of Western Australia). Her research focused on the impact of gender on the teaching and learning process.

Major Highlights and Key Achievements

  • Has been a vocal and proactive proponent of the implementation of programs focusing on creating safe emotional, social and physical environments to enhance self-reflection, empowerment, mentoring and the development of positive relationship.
  • Has a passionate commitment to contribute to the professional through high quality professional learning.
  • Has a passionate commitment to teaching and leading schools and a keen interest in supporting the raising of standards and profiling of school leadership.
  • As General Manager of the Leadership centre, helped position the Centre as a premier provider of leadership development services based on identified standards, strategic and effective professional learning and an ongoing commitment to excellence in government school leadership. In this role, she also played a key role in:
    • the development and dissemination of the WA Leadership Framework;
    • the development delivery of annual School Leadership Conferences, Aspirant Modules and a Mentoring Project for all newly promoted government school leaders;
    • designing and implementing professional learning through ICT, eg the Bush Breakfast television series;
    • obtaining accreditation of a wide range of professional learning activities for university accreditation;
    • designing and delivering tour international study tours;
    • negotiating the East Java Exchange Program to deliver tailored and intensive leadership and management programs both on and off-shore.

Other

  • Membership of numerous professional associations, including the Australian Association for Research in Education, Australian College of Educational Leadership and the International Leadership Centres Network.
  • Has written several papers and articles for publications such as Education Review andThe Boys in Schools Bulletin.
  • Has delivered numerous professional presentations locally, nationally and internationally, on topics ranging from professional Standards for School Leaders to Social Justice in Education and Engaging and Motivating Boys.
  • Amongst her referees, she is able to cite the Director General of Education of Western Australia, local, national and international University Professors, CEOs and Directors of Executive organisations, as well as a wide variety of her peers.