President
President
WASSEA
Melissa comes to the role of WASSEA President after more than 30 years working in Public education. Her leadership journey is different from most; starting out as a School Psychologist before taking on roles in Staffing, District/Regional Office and Royal Street. Realising how much she missed working directly with students, Melissa won a six month acting position at Balga Senior High School… and stayed for nearly 10 years! She was then appointed as Principal of John Forrest Secondary College; leading the College to achieve the first “exceptional performance” Public School Review in WA. Melissa was selected as a Collegiate Principal, providing support to school principals to lead school improvement and enhance connectedness across the WA public education system.
Melissa originally joined WASSEA as she supports a professional association that can represent secondary school leaders at both an agency and government level. She is also a member of the State School Teachers’ Union of WA; and strongly advocates for all school leaders to be members of both professional and industrial organisations.
Melissa became a member of the Management Committee in 2013 with the aim of increasing her ability to influence system decision-makers about the needs of low socio-economic kids and the schools who seek to close the massive educational gaps that currently exist. She remains committed to ensuring all students (and their schools) receive resourcing based on their actual needs and not simply a formula based on broad student characteristics.
Melissa’s other great passion is sport – primarily the mighty West Coast Eagles… closely followed by Perth Scorchers and the WA Cricket Teams (Women’s and Men’s).
