Future of Education An interview by Hugh Gelder (Year 12) with Principal Rebecca Butterworth Our new Principal, Ms Rebecca Butterworth, has an insightful perspective on the future of education. Her views on the challenges young people face and her desire to elevate learning to be progressive, inclusive and forward-thinking offer a positive driving force for current and future HVGS students. Ms Butterworth joined HVGS this year after 20 years teaching abroad in International Baccalaureate Schools in China, Zurich, and most recently, Singapore. Inspired by a remarkable English teacher, Ms Butterworth pursued teaching – after realising that her original career path of law, really wasn’t where her heart lay. Early in her career, she was offered a position at a school to be the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator, which opened the doorway to international education and a path of leadership from quite early in her career. Ms Butterworth’s career trajectory and experiences gained in international education place our School in good stead to synthesise our current practice with new ways of thinking. This thinking will help shape and define our curriculum, culture and focus for the future. Our conversation covered Ms Butterworth’s IB experience, her role in supporting HVGS students and her future plans for the School. As a Year 12 student, my time at HVGS has almost come to an end; however, I’m really excited about what Ms Butterworth brings to the HVGS community and can’t wait to see where to next for HVGS. HG: Do you feel your involvement with the IB influenced your career? RB: When I got introduced to the MYP, it was a really exciting time. The program was very young. I worked
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in Queensland at the time, and we didn’t have a national curriculum; we had our state curriculum. Teachers had a lot of autonomy, and we could blend the IB and state curricula quite well. The MYP is very concept-driven and inquiry-driven and what we were doing in Queensland was also. While I was still teaching, I also worked with the IB as a workshop leader, authorising schools to do the MYP. This opened the door to international education, taking me to new overseas experiences. HG: I’m interested in your overseas experience and what you have learned from this. I see your international experience as a significant advantage to HVGS and students studying the IB. RB: Schools are very similar, no matter where you are. There is a universal need for all students to feel a sense of belonging and care at school. The curriculum is a pathway to help students realise their potential and feel that deep sense of belonging and care. Working in international schools gave me a lot of autonomy and scope to enhance curriculum and policies. That knowledge and understanding are something I can bring to HVGS. HG: On a more personal level, what are some of your hobbies and interests? RB: My hobbies have evolved over time. I find it important to be reading. I also like to do some of my own writing because finding ways to express myself and share my thoughts is important to me. HG: On that notion of self-expression, do you feel this is something that students also require in their schooling? RB: Elevating student voice and giving students agency in their learning is very important to me. Voice can be spoken, written, and nonverbal, but it’s ultimately about finding ways for students to feel a sense of belonging and safety.
