Mystery surrounds Caningeraba State School principal Dave Hartley on leave

Parents at a southern Gold Coast primary school have launched a petition to “bring back” their principal who has mysteriously been on leave five months after starting.

Former Pimpama State Primary College Principal Dave Hartley has been on administrative leave from Caningeraba State School since the end of 2024. Picture: Jerad Williams

Parents at a southern Gold Coast primary school have launched a petition to “bring back” their principal who has mysteriously been on leave five months after starting.

Burleigh Waters primary school Caningeraba State School principal Dave Hartley went on administrative leave in term four last year, with his return date still unknown.

Parents from the school said they were shocked by his unexpected leave which came less than five months after he started - one said it felt like the school had been “cast adrift” with his absence.

Parent Xianne Aherne said: “In such a short time, Mr Hartley left a positive impact on so many children and families.”

After this masthead reported on the mystery a petition was launched to “bring back” the beloved teacher.

Within 24 hours, it had more than 150 signatures.

Caningeraba State School principal Dave Hartley. Picture: Jerad Williams

Parent Karl Maskell added: “Right from the start of Mr Hartley’s arrival to Caningeraba State School in 2024, he made an incredible impression.

“He arrived full of enthusiasm, innovation and exciting ideas to positively improve the school.

“His progressive leadership with a specific focus on building engagement with the parent and wider school community and his vision for Caningeraba was welcomed by the parent community.

“Please come back Mr Hartley. We need you.”

Parents responded to the petition and said they were “so glad someone is trying to get the word out”.

“Please, he is the best principal,” one parent said.

Another said: “Hopefully Mr Hartley can return sometime soon”.

‘We miss him’: Mystery surrounds principal’s return

Parents claim one of the Gold Coast’s biggest primary schools has been “cast adrift” amid mystery surrounding the return of their principal, who went on sudden leave late last year.

The Queensland Department of Education has confirmed Caningeraba State School principal Dave Hartley went on administrative leave in term four last year, yet his return date is still unknown.

The unexpected leave was less than five months after he started following Mr Hartley resigning from his “beloved” Pimpama State Primary College. At the time he was facing a “considerable pay cut” due to a decline in enrolments.

A parent at Caningeraba State School - which is attended by 1087 pupils - said Mr Hartley was “highly welcomed” by the school community.

“He immediately identified opportunities for improvements, particularly in the way the school engaged with parents,” he said.

“The hope and promise of the school having a principal that will engage with the community has completely eroded.

“Mr Hartley was selected on a merit by a panel which determined he was going to lead the school to new heights.”

Former Pimpama State Primary College Principal Dave Hartley has been on administrative leave from Caningeraba State School since the end of 2024.

The school is currently led by former Miami State High School Associate Principal Michelle Flynn, who was brought in as Acting Principal in January.

The parent claimed communication by the school had been poor since Mr Hartley’s departure, with some people so unhappy they had removed their children from the school.

“The school has recently reintroduced its own Facebook page but this is a poor attempt at providing information,” the parent said.

“The school has tried to introduce the QParents app to the school but the communication around how to sign up has been dreadful.”

This masthead contacted Mr Hartley twice and he did not respond.

“One of the biggest primary schools on the Gold Coast is being run into the ground while an outstanding educator sits on the sidelines without any knowledge of whether he will get the chance to lead again,” the parent said.

They said they would like to see Mr Hartley return to the school.

“The school community misses him, and wants him to return because they could see that he was going to engage with them in a way that would enhance classroom learning.

“ ... Instead, he has been cast adrift, and the school is in a position where parents have already withdrawn their children from the school, and others are considering it.”

A Queensland Department of Education confirmed Mr Hartley has been on leave since last year and said the acting principal would “maintain a high standard of education and success for the school”.

“Caningeraba State School continues to have a strong school leadership team in place and has kept the school community updated on staff changes.”

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Originally published as Mystery surrounds Caningeraba State School principal Dave Hartley on leave