By Ewen McRae
Caroline Chisholm Catholic College principal Marco DiCesare has been shortlisted for a prominent education award.
Mr DiCesare has been shortlisted for the Principal of the Year (Non-Government School) in the Australian Education Awards, with the winner to be named at a ceremony in Sydney in August.
The Australian Education Awards are the leading independent awards for the education profession in Australia.
Mr DiCesare said the nomination was a nod of approval to the work of everyone at the Braybrook school.
“It is an honour to be nominated, but more importantly to lead this vibrant and diverse community,” Mr DiCesare said. “They are at the heart of what we do. This nomination is the culmination of the hard work and dedication we have to learning excellence.”
Since Mr DiCesare became principal in 2013, the college has had the biggest and most consistent growth in its history and improved its median study score and Better Education Ranking.
In 2016, the college achieved a median study score of 30 for the first time, and in 2017 attained another 30-plus study score.
Mr DiCesare said there had been significant changes at the school during his tenure, but he was most proud of the leadership of staff and students.
“You can feel it as you walk around, that sense of optimism and that we’re going somewhere,” he said. “We’ve updated the school significantly in recent years to try and give students the best we can.
“We have something like 60-plus nationalities, and that brings quite a lot of strength to the school, embracing our diversity.
“I think seeing the confidence of the staff and students, and really being able to see future leaders rise up among them, is what I’m most proud of.
“They’re doing what they want, and we’ve improved our results by offering the kids more choice, rather than limiting things.
“A broad curriculum is one of our biggest strengths.”
