St Kevin’s acting principal John Crowley takes new job
After bowing out of the race to become principal at St Kevin’s College, acting principal John Crowley has a surprising new gig.
Education
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St Kevin’s acting principal John Crowley has a new gig with the organisation running the Toorak college and 55 other schools around Australia
Mr Crowley, who scratched himself from the field for the permanent gig at the Catholic boys’ college, will take up a job as partnerships’ director at Edmund Rice Education Australia.
He is due to complete the year at St Kevin’s.
Mr Crowley, who was applauded for his role in building a bridge between survivors of institutional abuse and St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, came to St Kevin’s to steady the ship after a series of miss-steps put the magnifying glass on the prestigious college.
Many in the school community had hoped he could apply for the permanent role but Mr Crowley announced he would not.
Applications for the permanent role at St Kevin’s were due to close on July 6 but the position was readvertised in New South Wales after the closing date.
It was unclear if that was because of lack of suitable candidates or COVID-19 disruptions.
Based in Richmond, EREA schools educate nearly 40,000 students around Australia.
The partnerships’ director role includes EREA school renewal and professional learning and leadership development.
While the highly regarded educational leader, who was appointed in the acting role in February after the series of bombshells rocked the Catholic school was by no means guaranteed the appointment, it was thought that he would apply.
“In the interest of courtesy and transparency, wish to inform the community that I will not be applying for the position,” he said in June.
Mr Crowley said his declaration that he would not be in the running for the role would ensure St Kevin’s had access to the best candidates.
“My arrival coincided with a difficult time for the college. Over the past four months the leadership team, staff, advisory board, and our governing authority EREA have worked very hard to strengthen child safeguarding practices and governance cultures,” he said.
Mr Crowley said there was hope, despite the challenging times.
“Being a principal is, without doubt, one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it is also a very demanding one,” he noted.