Principal Announcement

Announcement from Armidale Director of Schools

November 16, 2018

To the community of St Nicholas Primary School,

It is with great pleasure that I announce, with the approval of Bishop Michael Kennedy, the appointment of Mr John Clery as Principal of St Nicholas Primary School Tamworth from the beginning of Term 1 2019. John is currently Assistant Principal at St Nicholas Primary School, Tamworth.

My thanks to the selection panel: Dr Terry McCarthy (Chair), Fr Christopher Onuekwusi (Parish Priest), David Collie (School Consultant), Helen Cooney (School Consultant), and Mrs Margo Taggart (Parent Representative) for their wisdom and commitment to the selection process. The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) was supported by an external recruitment company in our search for the best possible faith and educational leader and John was successful in a very competitive field. 

John has taught many students and led several staff teams across the Diocese of Armidale for the past eighteen years. He has actively sought opportunities for his own growth and development by achieving a variety of leadership experiences, including successful principalships in two schools over a 7 year period. John’s teaching positions have included St Philomena’s School, Moree, St Edward’s Primary School, Tamworth, St Joseph’s Primary School Quirindi and currently at St Nicholas Primary School, Tamworth. John has previously been Principal and Religious Education Co-ordinator at St Joseph’s Primary School, Mungindi and St Joseph’s Primary School Quirindi. John also has successful experience as a school-based Project Teacher, Literacy and Numeracy Teacher and Leader of Pedagogy in different school settings.

John has a Bachelor of Education (University of Sydney), a Masters of Educational Leadership and a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education (Australian Catholic University), a Graduate Certificate of Religious Education (Broken Bay Institute) and a Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Classrooms (University of New England). John is also currently participating in the LEAD Teacher Accreditation program certified by NESA.

John is a person of strong faith who is an active member of the St Nicholas Parish, Tamworth. He is committed to the creation of a Catholic school environment that is welcoming, inclusive and Christ centred in its mission and focuses on strong relationships within the community and between school and parish. He has a well-researched understanding of the development of a Professional Learning Community in a Catholic context.

Our best wishes to John and his family as he accepts this leadership role at St Nicholas and as a key system leader for all the schools of the Diocese of Armidale. We wish him every success and God's blessing in this new leadership role.

Yours sincerely

Chris Smyth

Director of Schools