James Cantor

As Assistant Head of Primary, I demonstrate quality leadership skills on a daily basis.

I demonstrate Christian leadership by:

• Openly affirming and practicing my Christian faith.
• Using a Christian approach when dealing with others
• Taking a team oriented, collegial and collaborative approach to work
• Leading, presenting and organising weekly chapel services

I serve by leading the Primary school in:

• Acting in the role of Head of Primary and fulfilling their responsibilities when required
• Providing practical and strategic support to the Head of Primary
• Maintaining a strong and supportive presence within the Primary school on a daily basis
• Assisting to implement and evaluate the strategic vision of the Primary School in line with the College’s core purpose and mission
• Actively participating in and providing leadership and support to other members of the Primary leadership team to ensure the effective, efficient and client-centred delivery of key daily operational functions in support of the Christian ethos and educational activities of the College
• Assisting to recruit and appoint staff for the Primary School
• Providing leadership to ensure the effective induction, mentoring, training and professional development of Primary School staff
• Modelling exemplary and inspired teaching practice where engagement and inquiry are visible
• Positively promoting the College with all key stakeholders and liaising with parents and the broader community
• Being fully involved in the life of the Primary School e.g. attending School tours and enrolment events, parent functions, concerts, sporting events, camps and other activities as required

Leading and serving the Primary school staff in the following areas:

• Modelling excellent practice as a classroom practitioner and school leader
• Taking shared responsibility for the pastoral care of K-6 staff in partnership with the Head of Primary
• Actively participating in the College’s professional reflection and staff development process
• Create a Christlike, nurturing, and encouraging climate which enables all staff to develop and maintain positive attitudes towards parents and wider community
• Encourage a godly, healthy and united team ethos and individual contribution by applying personal commitment, vision, enthusiasm and energy

I have led the operations running of the Primary school in the following areas:

• Managing weekly timetable changes and general day to day running of the school
• Overseeing the Primary school timetable in conjunction with the Primary Curriculum Co-ordinators to ensure effective balance in keeping with NESA requirements.
• Devising and maintain academic timetables and duty rosters to support student learning and wellbeing
• Calendar planning to ensure equity across all disciplines and stakeholders.
• Overseeing the term meeting schedule for Junior School
• Organising the facilitation of standardised and external testing across the school, including PAT, ACCADIENCE, ICAS and NAPLAN testing
• Recruitment, rostering and allocation of relief staff on a day-to-day basis
• Covering duties if staff are unavailable
• Assisting in presentation of orientation days and transition programs
• Leading school assemblies and meetings
• Coordinating events such as Photo days and whole school functions
• Reviewing risk assessments and excursion applications
• Publishing and electronically distributing the daily notice across the Primary, Enrichment, and Administration staff
• Approving correspondence to parents
• Submitting IT and Maintenance requests for staff
• Assisting in the organisation of the school musical rehearsal
• Responding to critical incidents
• Writing school newsletter articles
• Liaising with the Head of Secondary, Secondary Head of Departments, Library, Business, Payroll, IT, HR, Maintenance Managers and Administration staff about various wide-ranging logistical requirements for students, staff, classes and the Primary school. I do this across the campus on a daily basis.

Leading teaching and learning in the following areas:

• Supervising and mentoring staff through NESA’s New Grad program
• Conducting NCCD lesson observations and reports
• Leading Individual Education Program meetings with teachers, parents, and external providers
• Liaising with the Head of Primary, Deputy Principal, Director of Teacher Development, Director of Research, and Director of Enrichment to discuss student progress, support, extension opportunities, and the future school direction of teaching and learning
• I have displayed leadership in curriculum development by completing both the AIS Literacy and Numeracy Projects in order to implement and model the strategies in my own teaching practice and support the primary teaching staff in their practice
• Participating in events held by Christian Schools Australia, including a Masterclass on Transforming Christian Education and several Community of Practice meetings with teachers from other Christian schools including a session with the CEO of NESA, Mr Paul Martin.

I have also upheld several teaching and professional commitments

• During 2022, my leadership role included a teaching load of up to 0.5FTE responsibility for modelling exemplary and innovative teaching practice to students and teachers from Kindergarten to Year 6.
• In 2023-2024, I served in a dual role of Assistant Head of Primary and K-6 Wellbeing Coordinator
• Since the commencement of my role to current, I seek to serve the teachers and students by stepping in and teaching K-6 and specialist classes when permanent and casual teachers are unavailable, in an effort to reduce stress on teachers and students by keeping them together, rather than being split between classes and ensuring quality teaching and learning continues for those students
• In 2022-2023 I also filled in for classes at YVCS where required, assisting students with diverse needs in their learning and supporting the teachers of those students
• My performance as a teacher is consistent with the standards of Proficient competency identified by the NSW Institute of Teachers

Managing the K-6 Wellbeing portfolio, I have led in the following areas;

• Leading staff and student Wellbeing
• Participating in the AIS Wellbeing Project as a member of the GPCC leadership team
• Supporting teachers and students during and after incidents, including critical incidents within the Primary School
• Trained Secret Agent Society Program Facilitator
• Investigating and following the GPCC Behaviour policy as behavioural incidents take place in school, excursions, camps, online, or on the bus
• Conducting parent meetings regarding children’s wellbeing and behaviour
• Organising and implementing wellbeing initiatives such as, cyber safety sessions, friendship groups, camp anxiety groups, bubble dance parties, fruit and vegetable week, R U OK? Day
• Support students and parents with issues around school refusal
• Preparing students for camp by running social and emotional support groups
• Creating and presenting social stories
• Investigating and reporting child protection matters
• Following up on individual students who require extra support on a regular basis
• Building a staff culture of care, trust, and positive interactions
• Organising and hosting a staff social event at my home for the beginning of the school year
• Checking in with staff daily
• Coordinating and staffing the K-6 the sensory area
• Liaising with the Director of Student Wellbeing, school counsellors, teachers, parents, students, and behavioural therapists in delivering a safe and supportive Christian environment for all members of the school community

I lead Work Health and Safety in the following ways:

• Demonstrating active and visible leadership in WHS risk management as the Primary WHS Representative on GPCC’s WHS Committee
• Acquiring knowledge and keep up to date with WHS matters
• Understanding the nature of College operations and the associated hazards and risks
• Including WHS as an agenda item of all management meetings, checking progress towards achievement of past actions / incidents, and soliciting WHS reports from stage leaders and other relevant staff
• Performing WHS inspections throughout the year
• Liaising with the WHS Officer to promptly address WHS issues brought to my attention in consultation with those involved or affected

I have displayed leadership and contribution to the spiritual life of the College by:

• A strong commitment to the College’s Statement of Doctrine and Beliefs and compliance with the Staff Code of Conduct
• Actively and regularly praying for the school and those within the school community
• Mentoring student leaders in leading and speaking at chapel
• Leading and participating in staff devotions, including contributing to small group discussions and prayer
• Contributing to the pastoral care of students and others in the school community
• Modelling a positive example of Christian community in interactions with parents, students, other staff and the wider community
• Sharing a clear testimony of my personal faith journey to parents, students or the wider community in relevant contexts
• Supporting the core purpose and mission of the College and its underlying values and beliefs as the College interacts with parents, students and the wider community
• Attending the ‘Prayer at the Post’ Events held at Green Point Christian College
• Developing an understanding of how my role contributes to the broader Christian education ministry of the school by completing the year-long GPCC induction program ‘Foundations for Christian Education’
• Writing and presenting programs for Chapel based on the GPCC’s Student Profile from a Christian perspective
• Attending and acting on weekly Primary School Staff Briefings and Meetings
• Attending and acting on weekly Primary Leadership Team Meetings
• Participating in CSA and IPSHA Deputy Meetings
• Being a positive and clear line of communication for all staff members
• Providing loyal, confidential and honest advice to the Head of Primary School
• Undertaking staff professional development as required
• Participating in implementing change by sitting on the Schoolbox Champions team, School Leadership Coaching team, providing feedback to the Director of Teaching on the new GPCC teaching and learning Framework
• Meeting with the SRC student representative to discuss the implementation of suggestions put forward by the SRC

• Proficient Teacher - Band 3 (Senior Teacher)
• Fulltime 2010 - 2016 and then part time (0.6 FTE) 2017 - Present when I diversified between classroom teacher and Sport Coordinator so my wife could return to her career as after having our children
• Experienced Classroom practice and management
• Writing Individual Education Plans
• Junior School Aboriginal Education Committee Member
• Responsibilities held previously at Lakes Grammar: K-12 Work Health and Safety Staff Representative (2016-2019)
• Junior School Wellbeing Committee Member
• Junior School Building Learning Power Committee Member
• Junior School Science Curriculum Committee Member
• Junior School Social Committee Member
• Coordinate and Organise School Camps
• Facilitate Chapel as required
• Christian lunch (Cru) group assistant leader.

• Coordinate Sport in K-6 (0.2 teaching load since 2016)
• Junior School Management Team Member
• Organised and administered the entire primary school sport program
• Managed a team of two assistants
• Implemented the K-6 Sport and PE program
• Budgeted three separate sport accounts
• Rostered and allocated staff for weekly sport and carnivals
• Organised sport-related transport
• Wrote and reviewed risk assessments, and COVID Safe plans
• Displayed initiative in the role by implementing recognition for students with disability in their sporting achievements
• Integrated an electronic roll system
• Designed sport representative uniforms
• Developed partnerships with outside providers (Mariners FC, NSW Hockey, NSW Touch, Cricket NSW, Sports in Schools Australia, Jump Rope for Heart)
• I played a vital role in raising the profile of the school in the outside community by taking every opportunity to promote and highlight the benefits of our school which included writing posts for publication on social media when Lakes Grammar have had individual or team success at sporting events
• Represented Lakes Grammar on the Hunter Region Independent Schools Primary Sport Committee

• Chaplain (0.2 load)
• Programming and teaching weekly Scripture lessons (Years 3-12)
• Programming and leading Chapel fortnightly
• Counselling individual students
• Coordinating R U OK? Day
• Coordinating Stage 6 Retreat.

• Facilitation of religious and personal development seminars in State and Independent High Schools throughout NSW
• Preaching in various Churches
• Mentoring young people
• Scripture teaching at primary and high school level
• Writing scripture programs
• Training volunteers
• Recruiting staff
• Being part of a leadership team for mission to Northern Western Australia and Indigenous areas.

• Transportation of disabled and elderly clients to medical appointments and shopping centres.

• Preparing two meals a day for up to 50 students and staff.

• Children and youth work with local Church
• Personally mentored by director of AMM in Bible study, preaching techniques, engaging in children's ministry, leading a small group and ministry life.

• Managing all areas of McDonald's restaurant, Wollongong.