Board Members

Balcatta SHS School Board consists of the following members:

Helen Maitland – Principal

Helen joined us as one of our two Associate Principals in 2015 responsible for students in Years 7 to 9. In 2019, Helen won the position of Principal of Balcatta Senior High School. Helen started her career as a teacher of Home Economics and then went on to become Head of Learning Area. Helen has extensive experience as a Deputy Principal and brings a wealth of expertise in student services, curriculum and whole school planning. Helen believes that when teachers, parents and community members work together, we maximise the chances for every child’s future success.

Kevin Fraser – Chair of the School Board

Kevin has a long association of engagement in Music and Arts Education including instrumental music teaching, ensemble direction, performance and administration. He has cherished the opportunity to be involved in these varied roles of music education, leadership and mentoring. Kevin’s own teachers and mentors have been inspirational, professional in approach and excellent motivators.

His work teaching and administering schools and community groups over the course of his career, has led to a large number of public performances at school and community events. His experience in teaching at Gifted and Talented programs has enriched his knowledge of the full range of arts presentations and allowed him to build a rich network of contacts within the arts community generally.

Kevin’s experience as Program Coordinator of Classical Guitar at the Department of Education – Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS) includes involvement in the Western Australian Classical Guitar Ensemble Festival and ranges from performance to conductor/director of ensembles and Co-Director of the Festival on a number of occasions. He spent a number of years as the Vice-President of the Classical Guitar Society of WA (CGSWA) and convenor of the ‘Classical Guitar Forums’.

Kevin’s wide ranging experience as Deputy Principal at Schools, IMSS and through a deep engagement with tertiary institutions, affords him the widest ranging view of education contexts and programs across WA. He has had the opportunity to visit, view and engage with a range of teams and presentations through his role as a consultant for secondary schools in WA. This has facilitated a deeper knowledge of programs over a wide range of schools and levels with a variety of outcomes and successes.

Community Members

Chris Hatton

Chris has always been involved in education and building strong communities. He is an experienced teacher and a former State Member of Parliament. His wife teaches at West Balcatta Primary School and his four children all attended Balcatta Senior High School. Chris believes in supporting local school initiatives and providing great educational opportunities for Balcatta High School students. He is very keen to be a part of the new school building program and to see the benefits to teachers, students and learning.

Carli Sanbrook

Carli is a passionate Drama and English teacher as well as an experienced Coordinator of Performing Arts. Carli holds a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Management and is currently studying her PhD. Her research interests include student wellness, pre-service teacher experiences and scholarly internships. Carli is a Lecturer and Academic Coordinator of Professional Practice (secondary) at Edith Cowan University.

Clive Barstow

Clive is a Professor of Creative Arts at Edith Cowan University, Honorary Professor of Art at the University of Shanghai Science & Technology China, and Honorary Professor of Design at Guangdong Baiyun University China. He was Executive Dean of Arts & Humanities at ECU between 2015-2021. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the Gloucestershire College of Art & Design UK, a Master of Arts from the University of the Arts London and a PhD from Griffith University Australia. Clive is a practicing artist and writer. His exhibition profile includes forty years of international exhibitions, artist residencies and publications in Europe, America, Asia and Australia. His work is held in a number of collections, including the Musse National d’Art Modern Pompidou Centre Paris and the British Council USA. He is also Director of the Open Bite Australia Print Workshop, which encourages the development of printmaking within a number of local indigenous communities. In 2019 Clive was awarded the lifelong fellowship award by the Australian Council for University Art & Design Schools, for his outstanding contribution to art and design education in Australia.

Parent Members

Georgina Dragicevich-Knight

Georgie became a Board member in 2017 and is a parent of a current Year 7 and Year 9 student. Previously, she served on the Board of St Lawrence Primary School for five years. Georgie is passionate about working with all members of the Board in raising the profile of the school as a first choice destination for students.

Phillip Saraceni

Phillip became a Board member in 2019 and is a parent of a current Year 7 student and a Year 5 student at West Balcatta Primary School. He is excited about the benefits the redevelopment program will provide our students. Phillip will assist and work with the Board to enhance the profile of the school ensuring that the local community place Balcatta SHS as their first choice in high schools.

Steven Summers

Steve join the board as a new parent member in 2021. He is the parent of a Year 7 student with another child to join in 2023. He is excited about the new opportunities that the long awaited Balcatta SHS upgrade will bring for all students. He has great expectations that the upgrade will bring those opportunities to life. One of his core objectives is to get Balcatta SHS as the high school of choice for our local area intake schools. He loves a chat and is looking forward to being involved and adding value wherever he can.

George Ognenis

Tabetha McCallum

Staff Members

Tessa Curtis

Years 10-12 Associate Principal at Balcatta SHS

David Curtis

David’s strong contribution to Student Services is underpinned by his commitment to the Berry Street Model which uses strength-based approaches to promote student growth. His professionalism reflects the shared values of excellence, equity and care that are fostered through the Department of Education. He promotes high expectations for all students in his role as Year Coordinator for Years 11 and 12.

Mark Entwistle

HoLA Mathematics at Balcatta SHS