Position Information Taree High School, nestled in the heart of the Manning Valley, stands as a beacon of comprehensive and inclusive education, serving a diverse cohort of 680 students from Years 7 to 12, including a proud 22% representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our dedication to fostering an environment where every student can thrive. Grounded in respect for the Biripi people, the traditional custodians of our land, Taree High School celebrates a vibrant blend of culture, language, and history. Our deep connection to the land, waters, and the rich tapestry of Gathang language and culture is not merely acknowledged, but intricately woven into our educational ethos, demonstrating a profound commitment to community and heritage. As a champion of the Connected Communities Strategy, our school leads the way in implementing innovative programs aimed at improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students and their families. This commitment extends beyond academic achievement to embrace and honour the diverse cultural heritage that defines our community. Our history of achievement spans the academic, sporting, and cultural realms, celebrated throughout the year and supported by a robust curriculum that caters to the diverse strengths and interests of our students. Taree High School boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including specialist areas for Creative and Performing Arts, PDHPE, Technical and Applied Studies (TAS), and a Trade Training Centre, alongside rich Vocational Educational Training opportunities and a dynamic Support Unit. Embracing the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework, we cultivate a culture of lifelong learning, where students exemplify cooperation, participation, and respect for both the school and wider community. Our multifaceted Wellbeing Team ensures that every student is supported through a comprehensive network that includes a School Psychologist and Counsellor, Youth Outreach Workers, Year Advisers, and the Head Teacher Wellbeing, alongside vital connections with external agencies. Our Transition Program and Year 7 Learning Pods are the cornerstone of our strategy to foster belonging and community from the earliest stages of the high school journey. The appointment of additional Learning and Support staff has been instrumental in continuing our focus on high-performance culture, student progress, and the explicit teaching of key skills. The Head Teacher Mentor will lead the support for early career permanent, temporary and casual teachers in Connected Communities schools. The Head Teacher Mentor will support teachers to strengthen their practice through an explicit, structured program of professional development, coaching, classroom observation, demonstration, team teaching and individualised professional feedback. The Head Teacher Mentor role will work closely with other executive to strengthen a positive performance and development culture across the school, aligned to the values of the Connected Communities strategy. The Head Teacher Mentor does not have an allocated teaching timetable, however will work directly in classrooms supporting other teachers for at least half the teaching load of an executive teacher. While the Head Teacher Mentor does not replace the supervisory function of existing executive, particularly in relation to teacher accreditation, they will play a key role in supporting teachers with accreditation requirements. Selection Criteria Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. Demonstrated deep knowledge and understanding of the value of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background regarding the education of students from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, with successful experience in delivering innovative strategies to create inclusive teaching and learning practices and opportunities that lead to high quality learning outcomes for Aboriginal students Demonstrated successful experience in supporting teaching colleagues, particularly early career teachers, to improve teaching practice and student outcomes. Demonstrated deep knowledge and understanding of the NESA requirements for accreditation at the level of Proficient Teacher, including for temporary and casual teachers; Demonstrated capacity to build professional relationships, deliver professional feedback and lead professional learning leading to improved teaching practice and student outcomes Deep knowledge of and commitment to the Department’s Connected Communities Strategy and the NSW AECG/Department of Education Partnership Agreement ‘Walking Together Working Together’ General Selection Criteria 1. Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice 2. Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs 3. Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams 4. Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents 5. Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning 6. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department's Aboriginal education policy Conditions To be eligible for consideration, an applicant for a head teacher position in one of these educational support areas must: hold tertiary qualifications including a degree; and be accredited as a secondary teacher. An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity. Special Notes Successful applicants may be entitled to a Recruitment Bonus of $20,000 (conditions apply) The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here. Applicants are to include details of their WWCC clearance number as part of this application. About the NSW Department of Education The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ( dandidet.nsw.edu.au ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion New merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals have been introduced to provide greater clarity to applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are located here. To ensure that your application complies with the guideline page limits, your attachments must be in PDF format .