Governance
The daily running of the school is in the hands of the School Principal and the Executive. The Principal is the School’s Chief Executive Officer and reports to the Board. Our current Principal is Cindy Barnsley.
The Executive consists of Principal Cindy Barnsley, Deputy Principal Matthew Whaley and Business Manager Melanie Williams.
The Directors of the School Board are elected every three years and are currently composed of elected members from the Korowal community. This arrangement allows for the consensual and efficient operation of the School, both administratively and educationally, and also encourages a constructive partnership between parents/carers and teachers. We strive for consensus in all decisions.
Parents and teachers are encouraged to take an active interest in school governance through voting or nominating for election to the School Board. There is an Annual General Meeting in May each year.
Korowal School Board of Directors
David Wright
Chair
BA, DipEd, MA, PhD
David has worked in education for over 30 years. After 5 years as a secondary school teacher he shifted to Western Sydney University where he was a key figure in the interdisciplinary Social Ecology program. He was also, variously, Head of Performance Studies in the School of Contemporary Arts, Associate Head of the School of Communication Arts and Director of Higher Degree Research in the School of Education.
David wrote a PhD titled ‘Creativity and Embodied Learning’ and supervised the work of over 40 PhD candidates. He researched alternative and holistic education in Australia and North America, visited key schools and met with teachers and theorists and this experience contributed to his decision to send his children to Korowal School.
Michelle Montgomery
Deputy Chair
Michelle Montgomery is an experienced teacher and school counsellor with a special interest in whole school wellbeing and inclusion systems and practices. She has post-graduate qualifications and registration in teaching and psychology and is a NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholar (Special Education, 2014). Her work developing and leading whole school models of wellbeing and trauma-responsive care have been published in peer reviewed journals and international texts, and she was an invited contributor to the 2020 UNESCO report on the role of Social Emotional Learning in schools.
She has taught in primary and secondary schools as well university post-graduate teaching programs and has held both academic and clinical leadership positions in government and non-government child-serving organisations. In her free time, Michelle enjoys live music, comedy and art-making, as well as spending time with family or getting lost in a good book or puzzle.
Michelle has a child in Year 5 at Korowal.
Greg Lucas
Director
B.Comm., MBA (Dist.), CFP.
Greg Lucas is a Certified Financial Planner and a Lecturer in Financial Planning at the University of South Australia. Prior to moving into academia, Greg was a practising financial advisor and principal of a financial planning practice for 22 years.
Greg has served as a Director of Korowal School since 2010, and has been the Chair of its Finance and Resources Committee since 2011. He is known for his dedication and commitment to education. He has developed a reputation for providing governance, leadership and innovative solutions along with his ability to communicate with clarity, calmness and objectivity.
Greg has two children who graduated from Korowal. When not working, Greg loves to work in his garden in Katoomba, enjoys time with his family and pretends to understand cattle-raising on his hobby farm.
Mat Spiteri
Director
BCom, CPA, CTA
Mat Spiteri has over 20 years experience as a tax accountant and runs an accounting practice based in the upper Blue Mountains, servicing small to medium-sized businesses all over the east coast of Australia. He is a CPA Australia qualified accountant and registered tax agent, a fellow of the National Tax & Accountants’ Association, a Chartered Tax Advisor and a fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia. Mat and his family relocated from Sydney to the Blue Mountains in 2007 and they have two children attending Korowal School.
Nathanael Hunter
Director
Nate has been a parent at Korowal for nine years, and a Teacher’s Aide for four. He brings a unique perspective on the power of Korowal’s gentle and caring approach. He is deeply passionate about keeping the School’s culture strong, and in maintaining the independent course that attracted his family to Korowal. Nate has completed two trades (Baker/Pastrycook, and Distribution Powerline Worker).
Nate is completing a double major in a Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience and Psychology), and has strong skills in abstract writing and comprehension that such study entails.
He has two children at Korowal, one in Year 6 and one in Year 8.
Natalie Young
Director
Natalie is a Korowal mum based in Katoomba. After many years working in law and the media, Natalie has a home-based practice supporting clients in the health sector and NFP. As a Board member Natalie is looking forward to contributing to the vibrant and diverse Korowal community to help it grow and prosper in the future. Together with Grace and Scarlett the family is a proud supporter of their sister Petra, a member of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community, and their sister Lisa, a trauma nurse in Tasmania.
Suneeti Rekhari
Director
Dr Suneeti Rekhari has extensive experience in the Australian education sector, leading quality, contemporary approaches to learning and teaching, curriculum transformation, and building teacher capability. In recognition of her global leadership in these fields, she is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (PFHEA). Suneeti has a PhD in Sociology, along with a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Social Science. She is currently Director Educational Quality at TAFE NSW, responsible for a large and diverse team, with a complex strategic and regulatory portfolio, ensuring quality educational outcomes for nearly half a million learners across NSW.
Angela Gillespie
Director
Angela Gillespie, currently works as the Senior Manager of Practice and Programs at Connect Children and Families, a not for profit organisation working across the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney. Angela has Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and has worked in many sectors of education including schools and TAFE but her passion lies in Early Childhood Education.
Angela has been a Korowal parent since 2017 and greatly values the unique learning environment the school offers. She looks forward to contributing in her role as Board Director, to ensure this educational opportunity remains accessible for future generations of students and families.