Mackay schools welcomes two new principals

Education Queensland appoint two permanent principals

NEW PRINCIPAL: Marian State School Principal Leonard Fehlhaber. Picture: Stuart Quinn

PRINCIPAL Leonard Fehlhaber has come from one of Mackay's largest primary schools to one where chickens roam free among students.

"The difference between the schools in town and coming to Marian is striking... it's beautiful, and has a calm atmosphere,” he said.

"The demographic of the students is different, no better no worse, just different,” he said.

Mr Fehlhaber is one of two new principals appointed to state schools in the Mackay region at the start of term two.

Dysart State High School welcomed Lynette McDonald as their new principal.

Mr Fehlhaber has been teaching for 23 years, starting his career in Blackwater before moving to Harvey Bay.

He was a principal at a small school in Maryborough and in 2014 he was appointed principal of Mackay Central State School.

"There was that depth of complexity and inclusiveness in the community (at Mackay Central), it was just good fun and good kids,” he said.

"It had gone through some tough times but it was a great school.

"And you come to Marian and it's just a different community, it's beautiful out here with a beautiful community.”

Mr Fehlhaber said technology has been the biggest driver of change in the way kids are taught.

"Kids are kids, adult perceptions of them have changed and that will be the same with every generation... we have to be aware what impacts on them and how they learn, if we don't change with that, we will be failing them very quickly,” he said.

Both new principals have been acting in the position for the last 12 months before being officially appointed at the start of the new term this week.

Dysart State High School's principal Lynette McDonald has been a state school educator for three decades and started her career in Ayr.

This is her first principal job, after being deputy principal at Brisbane's Narangba Valley State High School.

She said her main priorities are to improve student's writing and to improve school culture.

"The community have been very welcoming to myself as Acting Principal and then also when I received the permanent appointment,” she said.

"Staffing is one of our major challenges in rural areas, particularly in specialist subject areas.

"Also we are looking to increase the opportunities for students in a range of curriculum areas both in the tertiary and vocational pathway.”

Originally published as Mackay schools welcomes two new principals