New principal comes on board
HAILING from Brisbane, Australia, Dr Deborah Priest will join the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM) as it matures and moves to the next level of its service to the Australian and international student community.
AISM has grown since 2000 and is the only international school in Malaysia that provides the Australian curriculum from pre-school level (age three) to pre-university level (age 18).
Dr Priest has been in the education industry for 33 years and was most recently the head of Moreton Bay College in Brisbane.
She also held the position of head of senior school in Somerville House, also in Brisbane, and head of education studies in Bond University, Australia.
She earned her master’s in education majoring in leadership and management and her subsequent PhD from the Queensland University of Technology.
Dr Priest is a strategic yet pragmatic, warm-hearted, disciplined and directional leader of successful teams of educational professionals.
She is noted for her high level of energy, credibility and capacity that come from a depth and breadth of professional experience in managing schools with multimillion dollar budgets over many years.
She approaches her leadership roles through a focus on and understanding of financial, human resource, risk and facilities management, ensuring the commercial sustainability and good standing of the school that she leads.
At AISM, Dr Priest will focus on developing strong working relationships within and outside the school community to enhance learning opportunities for students, reviewing current teaching and learning practices and how they meet the needs of 21st century learners. She will also be developing a masterplan for the school to ensure that the best facilities are available for
Holistic Autralian education
Every year, AISM students benefit from seamless transitions into education pathways in Australia as well as acceptance into universities all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is an international qualification that emphasises on holistic education and equips students with a wide range of life skills and an excellent academic foundation for their future.
While emphasis is placed on academic excellence, the physical, emotional and social dimensions of growth are seen as crucial elements and the teaching reflects the Australian education philosophy of developing the whole child.
Dr Priest will be at the school’s Open Week held from March 16 to 21, from 10am to 1pm.
For more information, call 03-8949 5000 or e-mail events@aism.edu.my or visit www.aism.edu.my