For years, many families in the catchment area of Miami State High School opted out of the state system if they could afford it, preferring instead private schools in far-flung suburbs.

Among locals, the school had a rough reputation, backed by news reports of a student stabbing and shooting threats as recently as 2015.

But something changed.

The streets of Broadbeach, Mermaid, Miami and Burleigh are starting to swell with students dressed in the blue and yellow uniform of their local state high school. Just like the homes in its surrounding suburbs, Miami High is undergoing dramatic transformation.

It is not just anecdotal evidence either. Figures from Miami State High School show local enrolments are on the rise.

Meeting principal Sue Dalton, it becomes obvious why — she loves a good makeover.

In fact, the mother of three insists she would be an interior designer if she wasn’t an educator (conveniently ignoring her history as a national hockey player), and it’s clear she has an aesthetic flair.

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One of her first projects upon taking the helm of the historic Gold Coast school and beachside alma mater of former premier Anna Bligh was to gut and redesign the administration block.

It might seem a superficial transformation, but Sue understands that changing the form means changing the function.

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“This building was past its use-by date. It was archaic. It not only didn’t look professional, it made it difficult to act professional,” she says.

“It hindered communication. It was never somewhere you wanted to be.

“I wanted to open it up to the 21st century, to let the light in and let it be an example of how professional, modern and innovative we are.”

Sue is talking about the school office, but she might as well be talking about the school itself.

Now in her third year as head of the high school, famous for its heritage-listed “Miami High’’ hillside sign, the inner transformation is well underway.

Judging by the school’s 2018 results, it’s looking every bit as good as the new and improved admin block.

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“This school has huge potential, it’s enormous,” says Sue, who was previously principal of Wellington Point State High School in the Redlands, which also underwent significant improvements in culture and academic results under her leadership.

“The school and the area itself is at a turning point. The demographics have changed in the catchment area. There are so many more young professional families here now than ever before and they are invested in their children’s future. We want to capitalise on that.

“So many of the local kids around here go to private schools but we want to show that we can offer the same opportunities here. Just in the last couple of years we’ve seen the intake from our catchment area really skyrocket. People are seeing the change.”

Likewise, Sue says the school recently posted its best NAPLAN and senior results in history, achievements she credits to a high-impact teaching framework applied in recent years that has strengthened student-teacher relationships.

Despite her pride, she says she is careful not to lend too much credence to those figures.

It is a bold stance to take in an era of published rankings and competitive excellence programs.

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In fact, many state schools with a high OP ranking have a low OP participation rate, indicating only the top students sit for the tertiary test. One has even been called out by parents for stating in its Year 11 subject guide (still available online) that “students must have achieved at least a B- in Year 10 English and mathematics to consider this (OP) pathway’’.

Miami’s approach is to never deny a student their preferred pathway.

“Not every student wants to opt for the OP or university pathway but if they do, we support them,” Sue says.

“There are many ways to improve data at a whole school level, but for us the only way to improve data and results is quality teaching and working with the students.’’

Sue says emphasising a positive culture, quality teaching and strong student leadership are her true priorities.

To achieve this, she draws heavily on her background as a national hockey player and coach. Sue not only represented Australia in the sport, she was one of the most successful female hockey coaches in Queensland.

As the first female principal in Miami High’s history, fostering female leadership is a particular priority.

As well as hosting Australia’s only girls Rugby 7s excellence program, this year Sue created a Girls in Leadership group at the school and successfully nominated two female leaders for a UN conference in the US this winter, making them the only students from Queensland to attend.

“Our school captain Amira Aboukoura and student council president Mady Hall will represent Australia in a global discussion of world issues at the Future Leaders Conference in America this July,” says Sue.

“I have to admit that when I found out they won a place, I was crying. I am just so excited for them — and for our school — that they get this opportunity.

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“Our student leadership program is a real focus for me because these students are our future. We have an extensive mentoring program with our executive student leaders and we’re doing a lot of work to strengthen the student voice.

“You don’t need to have an official leadership position to lead. I want every student to lead in his or her own way. It’s about being a good citizen.

“We have programs in place to make sure that each and every student reaches their full potential, whatever that might be. We don’t want to raise up only the top students, we want to raise the whole level. Results are just a bonus.”

Sue agrees it’s a big job, but she has a supportive team behind her comprising not only staff and families but the local community.

The vibrant Miami and Nobby Beach business community is an active supporter, with more than 40 outlets in partnership with Miami High. Businesses act as mentors and guardians of the school’s 1335 students, looking out for their welfare and encouraging good behaviour.

“We have an award we give out on assembly, called My Proud Moment. It’s an opportunity for us to salute students who have gone above and beyond to help each other or members of the community. So often it’s something one of the local businesses have seen them do, like help a senior citizen on their way home,” Sue says.

One of her many aims is to reclaim some of Miami’s past, particularly the legendary Great Hall. With iconic acts like AC/DC and Daddy Cool once gracing its stage, Sue says she would love to restore the Hall to its former glory.

“It would be fantastic if we could make it an event venue once again. That’s something the whole Gold Coast needs,” she says.

Perhaps it is her love of makeovers that makes Sue unafraid of change.

She encourages students to suggest ways that the school can improve, and will make the necessary adjustments if they prove their point.

It is the reason why students finish school every day at 2.30pm, why she says behaviour is not a big issue and why the dangers of social media, although still present, have been mitigated.

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Banning phones seems attractive in an era of cyber-bullying, but it is an approach Miami has chosen not to take.

“The biggest challenge for any principal is dealing with the risks and dangers of social media. We did consider banning mobile phones but in the end we decided to set very clear expectations of the students and they have risen to the challenge,” she says.

“The truth is that phones and technology are here to stay. We have to teach them how to use it responsibly, not just wash our hands of it. We’ve been discovering too the positive ways that our students can use their phones to enhance their learning.

“For example, in senior classes if a friend is ill, someone will photograph the notes from class and text it to them so they don’t miss out.

“We trust and respect our students. That’s why, when the senior student leaders came to me and asked if we could change our timetables so they could finish earlier, I listened. I looked at and shared their suggestions and realised we could cut some of the fat off of our schedule and allow them to finish early every afternoon.

“I would far rather them have an extra hour with their families each day than keep them here at school just because.’’

Sue says a sense of family is at the heart of the reimagined Miami State High School. Inclusivity is not an aim but a reality on the school grounds, whether that is between students or staff or both.

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“One of the first changes we made was that everyone on staff says hello to every student. It’s the little things that make a difference,’’ she says.

“We have a diverse cohort of students and I want them to feel this is their home.

“We have students who represent the whole LGBTQI community, different learning abilities and our amazing AUSLAN community — we care about every single one.

“I try to make myself open to the students as well. In fact, I’ve sort of broken a social rule for principals because my office is filled with photos of my husband, my daughters and my parents.

“There is a school of thought that we shouldn’t bring our home life on to the campus, but I believe the opposite. I want these kids and my colleagues to know that I’m human too, that I have people I love and care for and that I have a life outside the school grounds.”

It was during one of the darkest times of her life that she realised the value of her personal policy. Her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer the day after they had buried her father, meaning Sue had to take six weeks off school.

“My goodness, the messages and emails I received from staff and students during that time … I can’t express how much they helped.

“Imagine if they didn’t know how important my family is to me, if they hadn’t seen those photos on my desk. By letting them in, I guess it shows trust and I was repaid over and over again for that.

“When I finally came back to school, one of the students who is part of our supportive education unit came up to me and told me how much she missed me and how worried she had been for me. Then she gave me a hug and told me how sorry she was about my mum and dad.

“Tell me this isn’t the best job in the world.”