National Recognition for Head of Boarding We congratulate Head of Boarding Lesa Fowler on winning a prestigious national boarding award – the 2020 Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) Premier Leadership Award. Lesa has made boarding her life’s vocation, working in numerous boarding schools within Queensland and Victoria, before heading up St Margaret’s boarding for the past 13 years. She has a complete understanding of the needs of all boarders, domestic (rural, city, Indigenous) and international, and is a consummate professional in her dealings with key stakeholders. As a member of the school’s leadership team, she advocates for boarders and their families. Lesa has earned a wonderful reputation with the St Margaret’s boarding community, by being balanced, thoughtful and just. She is an ethical leader who understands that leadership is not a 9 to 5 job, but is one where visibility and approachability are attributes for success in a boarding context. She is a hands-on leader who walks alongside her staff. Boarding is at capacity at the school and Lesa has been instrumental in growing boarding enrolments. The boarding house has at least 13 different nationalities present and, under her leadership, it is a co-operative and harmonious house. Recognising this and the need to nurture cultural understanding and tolerance, Lesa was instrumental in the creation of an annual “See my Difference, See my Worth” weekend long diversity festival, held on a Closed Weekend. While managing the overall boarding house and its staff, Lesa is also actively engaged in directly overseeing the academic and emotional welfare of the boarders. Continuous Reporting allows her to read every student’s results as they are posted, facilitating constant academic monitoring. She is involved in all SET plan interviews for the Year 10 boarders which gives her the opportunity to understand the path the girls wish to pursue in Years 11 and 12, and can keep them on track during their senior years. Lesa oversees our partnership
with Yalari and our 18 Indigenous students in boarding. She has demonstrated absolute commitment to ensuring strong academic or vocational outcomes for our Indigenous students. Lesa has contributed to the national boarding community through membership on the ABSA Board and through helping plan conferences and seminars for boarding staff. She has become an expert in the area of risk in boarding, so much so that she has been asked to be a guest speaker at ABSA events and has written and published papers on this topic. As a result of Lesa’s longstanding leadership of the St Margaret’s boarding house, the school was awarded Boarding School of the Year in the 2019 Australian Educator Awards and is a finalist in the 2020 awards in the same category. Upon learning of her win, Lesa said she was very surprised but honoured she was recognised. “It’s not something you do for the recognition, but I was especially happy for the boarding house, as you can’t do this job in isolation. “I have a wonderful team who all make an invaluable contribution to the house,” Lesa said. Principal Ros Curtis says she was thrilled that Lesa had been recognised through this prestigious national award. “Lesa’s knowledge of and commitment and dedication to boarding is unparalleled, and the school, the boarders and their families are very fortunate to have her lead the house. “This recognition is richly deserved,” Ms Curtis said.
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