Footscray High School principal Frank Vetere suddenly removed from role

One of Melbourne’s most celebrated state school principals has been suddenly removed from his role at Footscray High School.

Frank Vetere has left Footscray High School. . Picture: Facebook

One of Melbourne’s most senior and celebrated state school principals has been suddenly removed from his role.

The inaugural executive principal at Footscray High School, Frank Vetere, is no longer at the school, with students told at the end of last week he is “working on other projects”, the Herald Sun can reveal.

He has been replaced by Jillian English as acting executive principal of the school and his profile has been removed from the school’s website.

Mr Vetere’s sudden departure is being hotly debated at the secondary school, but no official reason has been given.

Footscray High School is part of the Footscray Learning Precinct, and was relaunched with new campuses in 2020.

Mr Vetere is a highly successful educator who has more than 20 years’ experience working as a teacher and was a longstanding principal at Point Cook College prior to coming to Footscray.

He is also the chair of the Hobsons Bay Network of Schools which are “recognised for their outstanding growth as a community of practice” and a board member at the Victorian Principals’ Association for the south west metropolitan area.

The Department of Education confirmed Mr Vetere, who was appointed to the newly created school in 2019 amid much fanfare, has been “seconded to the Department to assist in the establishment of new schools given the significant number across Melbourne’s west”.

Mr Vetere was previously an “impact case study” for Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership’s “Unlocking Potential: Principal Preparation” program.

His success was celebrated in an eight-page presentation, which documented his leadership journey from assistant principal to principal at Point Cook College under the guidance of the program.

In Mr Vetere’s welcome to Footscray High, which has now been removed from the website, he said he was “privileged and honoured to be the inaugural executive principal”.

“Our ultimate aim is to develop compassionate students with the personal qualities and attributes that will enable them to face their future with confidence,” he wrote.

Mr Vetere remains a registered teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.