Principal at helm of Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove State College steps down

The principal of one of the state’s most high-profile high schools has announced his retirement after a tenure that has seen the school transformed.

After eight years in charge of Queensland’s largest Prep-Year 12 state school and a 39-year teaching career, Kelvin Grove State College’s executive principal is retiring.

During his time in charge, 59-year-old Llew Paulger has seen student numbers swell from 2340 to in excess of 3600, and overseen the opening of the $17.7 million Queensland Ballet Academy at the college – a rare global instance of a ballet company being based within a school.

Mr Paulger will take leave at the end of this year before officially retiring. He will be replaced by Joel Buchholz – who is executive principal at Pimlico State High School in Townsville.

Executive Principal Llew Paulger with students Carlos Martin, Nico O'Sullivan, Jinali Trindall and Olivia Crane at Kelvin Grove State College in 2020. Photo: Tara Croser.

“My 39 years have been amazing and fulfilling and it has been a privilege to lead this place for the past eight years,” Mr Paulger said.

“I have not been in a school I have not loved, I feel privileged to have had an awesome career.”

Mr Paulger started his teaching career in Gladstone in 1984, since then he has worked at Sunnybank State High School, Redbank Plains State High School, Woodcrest State College, Browns Plains State High School and Get Real Flexi School at Goodna.

“I did my training at Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education in 1981, which later became what is now QUT, so it is nice to have started and finished my career across the road from each other,” he said.

Having put a plan in place for the next four years, Mr Paulger said he is at peace with his decision.

“It’s the right time for me, for my community and for my family,” he said.

“The college is absolutely thriving and it’s been an amazing place to work, so that makes the decision easy.

“I’m going to enjoy spending more time with my wife and travelling together.”