St Hilda’s School parents: Dismay at Gold Coast principal departures

Shocked parents dropping kids at a prestigious southeast Queensland school this morning are expressing dismay at losing “two strong women” after a pair of principals left in quick succession.

Parents of children at St Hilda’s say they were taken by surprise by the sudden departure of the school’s principal.

SHOCKED parents dropping kids at St Hilda’s School this morning are expressing dismay at losing “two strong women” after a pair of principals left in quick succession.

Junior school principal Tracey Maynard departed at the end of the previous term followed yesterday by the abrupt resignation – effective immediately – of school principal Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds.

What led to her departure is unclear. A statement from Anglican Schools Commission executive director Sherril Molloy yesterday said Dr Wilson Reynolds had told the school she intended to resign “and the school council have subsequently agreed that this will be effective immediately”.

Parents arriving at the school today praised former principal Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds.

A PRINCIPAL ‘ADDICTED’ TO EDUCATION

“We’re just in shock about it,” Genevieve Mullins, mum of eight-year-old student Gisele, told the Bulletin this morning.

“We had Ms Maynard leave before the end of last term – two very strong women have now left.

“They were strong leaders at the school and we don’t know why they left. There’s something else going on here.

“The girls loved (Dr Wilson Reynolds). She was awesome. Just her ethics and what she did for the students.”

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It remains unclear why Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds has left St Hilda’s.

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Ms Mullins said she received an email about 4pm yesterday about the principal leaving.

Pupil Gisele also spoke highly of her former principal and said she would miss her.

Another parent at the school, who did not provide his name, said the principal’s resignation “definitely took me by surprise”.

One parent whose child attends prep year at the primary school said: “I’m not too sure why they left but they where both lovely women. It is sad. A bit crazy to be at the same time.”

Another parent said she received the letter yesterday but had “no idea” what caused the “sudden” departure from both principals in the past week.

“It’s sudden. Odd that they have both gone,” she said.