Mystery no more: Reason for school principal’s secret suspension revealed

She fought in the courts to keep it secret, but the reasons for a controversial Queensland school principal’s suspension from duty can finally be revealed.

The lid has been lifted on the secret suspension of a controversial Gold Coast high school principal.

Former Tamborine State High head Tracey Brose, who mysteriously departed the school recently after more than two decades at the helm, made national headlines when she sensationally sued a group of parents for defaming her on social media after she was suspended in 2016.

Mrs Brose fought to keep the reasons for the suspension under wraps -but they have now been revealed.

Former Tamborine Mountain High School principal Tracey Brose. Picture: Adam Head

Documents seen by the Sunday Mail show she was stood down by the Education Department in February 2016 amid an investigation into four allegations of “inappropriate conduct” which were originally substantiated but subsequently set aside.

The allegations included that Mrs Brose sent parent emails that were found to be “inappropriate and/or aggressive/threatening in tone” and allowed teachers to take one sick day on the same day every week, with students in years 10-12 only going to school four days a week.

She was also found to have breached the department’s recruitment and selection process policies in relation to the appointment of an acting head of department, and had amended or tampered with an HR email regarding a new position and pay level at the school.

Documents reveal the department was at that time giving “serious consideration” to disciplinary action including a reprimand, disciplinary transfer to another school, half-yearly performance reviews and restrictions from applying for promotions.

Tracey Brose was suspended from her post in 2016 but the reason remained secret for almost a decade. Picture: Jason O'Brien

But lawyers for Mrs Brose lodged a grievance complaint about the investigation into her conduct, including that the senior investigator had shown “apprehended bias”, including laughing at “inappropriate comments” by two parent witnesses.

The grievance complaint was upheld by the department and the findings made against her were set aside.

Mrs Brose returned to the school where she remained until early last year before going on leave following an angry outburst at staff over a Christmas party where teachers threw back Fireball whisky shots on school grounds from “very early” in the day, according to internal emails.

Her leave was extended several times, with acting principals appointed from other schools to fill the void.

In February this year, Ms Brose wrote to the Mount Tamborine community, confirming she was resigning from her position and would not be returning to the school, which had been a standout academic performer during her 22-year reign as principal.

Generic pictures of Tamborine Mountain State High School.

The Sunday Mail revealed she had again been under investigation by the Education Department over what she admitted in staff emails was an “unprofessional, irrational and unacceptable” response to the Christmas booze-up.

She told staff she was “overwhelmed with anger and emotion” after being “triggered” by the “sheer fear” that they could be suspended like she was in 2016.

“I barely survived suspension, most people never return to teaching,” she said in a staff email.

It is not known whether she was still under investigation over the Christmas drinks incident.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education said “all principals, teachers and school staff (are held) to the highest possible standards” but they were “unable to provide further information for confidentiality reasons”.

Ms Brose made national headlines in 2016 when she successfully sued a group of parents she alleged had defamed her in social media posts which labelled her, among other things, an “evil, nasty, horrible woman”.

Tamborine Mountain State High Principal Tracey Brose leaves Southport Court during the long-running defamation case. Picture: Adam Head

She had initially sought $1.2m in damages but was awarded just $6000 in 2020, later insisting “it was never about the money”.

But the judge in the case was highly critical of the award-winning educator, saying her evidence was “contrived” and she had compiled “a calculated assessment of the assets” of her critics as she launched legal action which left one shattered couple bankrupt.

Attempts to contact Mrs Brose, who has relocated to Victoria to take up a new job in the private sector, were unsuccessful.

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Originally published as Mystery no more: Reason for school principal’s secret suspension revealed