Craig Merritt to leave St Luke’s for John Paul College

One of the region’s most beloved educators will take up a role with a prestigious high school in Brisbane in 2023. Read the full story:

He took up the role of principal with St Luke's Anglican School on January 27, 2017, and has been one of the community’s most beloved school leaders ever since.

But all good things must come to an end, and Craig Merritt will finish up with St Luke‘s in January 2023.

Mr Merritt will take up an exciting new role as he replaces Brisbane‘s John Paul College principal Karen Spiller.

John Paul College board chair Dominic Taylor said the appointment of Mr Merritt followed an “extensive national and international search” plus feedback “on the key characteristics of the new principal through the recently conducted parent survey”.

“This valuable data informed what sort of leader would be required to continue to drive improved academic outcomes and ongoing community engagement,” Mr Taylor said.

St Luke's Anglican College principal Craig Merritt will move on in early 2023.

He said Mr Merritt was an accomplished principal of a kindergarten to Year 12 school, with a “proven track record of building a strong sense of community” as “a warm, people-focused leader”.

Before starting his role with St Luke‘s, Mr Merritt spent 23 years in Anglican school leadership positions.

He was the head of senior school at Whitsunday Anglican School in Mackay, and then deputy principal at Hillbrook Anglican School in Brisbane.

In 2021, he was listed in the Bundaberg NewsMail’s list of Most Influential People, where he spoke about his time in education.

“It’s very intentional to have a focus on really positive learning,“ he said.

“It’s a natural outcome of what we do as a holistic Christian school.”

Mr Merritt‘s efforts sure paid off.

In September 20221, an academic outcomes study revealed St Luke’s was at the top of the secondary education game in the region.