Information

Meet the Principal 

Nicole O’Brien was part of the foundation staff that opened the College in 2015. Nicole is a passionate educator with global experience in Education including both interstate and overseas appointments throughout her career.

Nicole lives in the Macedon Ranges with her husband Matt and their little boy Dustin. They all share a love of animals and their pets include dogs, cats and lots of chooks!

Nicole has a Bachelor of Education (University of South Australia), Specialist Certificate in Clinical Teaching (Melbourne University) and has recently completed the Unlocking Potential – Principal Preparation Program at the Bastow Institute for Educational Leadership. In 2018 and 2019, Nicole was a facilitator for INSPIRE, where she provided high potential leaders with the foundational capabilities required for school leadership. She used her experience to support and empower emerging leaders from schools in the Wyndham Network to learn collaboratively, develop leadership capabilities targeted to their career stage and to understand the skills and dispositions required to succeed as a teacher leader.

Nicole’s focus on excellence in teaching and learning is always evident by her love of student learning data, using the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes to inform all we do and ensuring all teaching and learning links directly to the High Impact Teaching Strategies and our Truganina College Instructional Framework. Nicole’s drive for a differentiated curriculum continues to contribute to the high expectations, achievement and success of the students and staff at Truganina College.

Meet the Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence: Middle Years Numeracy

Sadia Toqeer joined Truganina College in Term 1 2016. She has a Bachelor of Science (Biology), a Diploma in Education (Primary), a Master of Education and has also completed the CREATE program at Bastow.

She has taught across a range of educational settings in Melbourne and overseas with a focus on curriculum development and implementation.

Sadia is passionate about building strong educational partnerships between staff, students, families and the broader community to ensure outstanding growth is achieved for every child at the College.

Meet the Director of Learning and Wellbeing Excellence – Foundation to Year 3

Rhiannon Porter joined Truganina P-9 College in Term 1, 2022.  She has a Bachelor of Applied Science, a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) and a Master of Instructional Leadership through the University of Melbourne, completed in 2020.

Rhiannon has experience across a number of educational settings, including P-6, P-9 and P-12, predominately in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne.

She is an instructional leader and is passionate about leading school improvement in the key areas of literacy, assessment and reporting.

Prior to her years in education, Rhiannon worked across a number of fields including corporate real estate, hospitality and local government.

Rhiannon lives in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne with her husband, two teenage children and three cats – Oreo, Kelby and Buttercup.

Rhiannon will be leading the College to ensure evidence-based literacy instruction occurs in every classroom, allowing all students the greatest opportunities for success.

Meet the Director of Learning and Wellbeing Excellence – Year 4 to Year 7

Christina Arnold joined Truganina P-9 College in Term 2, 2021. Christina previously worked at Manor Lakes P-12 College for 5 years. During this time, she worked as a Primary classroom teacher, Learning Specialist and Acting Assistant Principal for Wellbeing. Christina has also worked at Concord School in the Northern suburbs for 6 years as a classroom teacher. She has completed a Bachelor of Education at RMIT University and a Masters in Special Education with Deakin University.

Christina lives on the Bellarine Peninsula with her son, their dog and two cats. Christina enjoys spending time at the beach with her dog, yoga and meditation.

Christina is passionate about ensuring that students are the centre of every decision that she makes.

Meet the Director of Learning and Wellbeing Excellence – Year 8 and Year 9

Lucy Francis joined Truganina P-9 College in Term 4 2021.

Lucy has been an educator for 19 years. While she began her career at Frankston High School, she has worked predominantly in international schools in the Middle East, Hong Kong and India leading the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (Grade 6-10); a concept based inquiry driven curriculum with a focus on authentic contexts.

Immediately prior to joining Truganina P-9 College, Lucy worked as a Clinical Teaching Specialist at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne in addition to working as an Educational Consultant supporting schools with professional learning in the area of assessment for teaching.

Lucy lives in the city and is enjoying reconnecting with her family, friends and past colleagues.

Lucy is passionate about empowering and challenging middle school students to prepare them for success at both senior secondary school and beyond.

Meet the Year 1 Assistant Principal

Stefanie Chiurtu joined Truganina College in Term 1 2023. She has a Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies and a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Melbourne.

She has taught in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and the Eastern Suburbs of London and has developed a passion for inclusion, welfare and the wellbeing of all students. 

Stefanie lives in Geelong and loves reading, crochet and spending time with her dogs, cats, cockatoos and turtle.

She believes every child has a right to learn and is proud to join the Truganina community where she will be part of ensuring high quality education for all students.

Meet the Year 3 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence

Jonathan has been in Education for 19 years and has worked in multiple schools in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and within Geelong. He really enjoys the opportunity to work with all key stakeholders to further drive the academic, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of every student.

Jonathan has lived in Geelong with his wife for the last 15 years and has two primary aged children. They enjoy spending time together, watching football (Go Bulldogs) and seeing friends and family.

Meet the Year 5 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence: Excellence and Equity

Sharon Hunt joined Truganina P-9 College in Term 3, 2021. Sharon has been an educator for over 20 years and has worked across three states educating both Primary and Secondary students. She has worked in leadership roles at both Williamstown North Primary School and Parkwood Green Primary School. As a curriculum leader she has a passion in Literacy, specifically in the area of Enrichment. Sharon is trained in IMSLE which is a recognised practice for students with Dyslexia. She is a registered practitioner with the Australian Dyslexia Association.

Sharon lives in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne with her husband and three boys. They spend their summer months involved with their local Life Saving Club.

As an educator and a school leader, Sharon values the importance of creating strong and sustained partnerships with families and the wider community to develop a positive and strong learning environment for all stakeholders.

Meet the Year 6 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence: Adult Learning

Leanne McNaughton came to Truganina College at the beginning of 2016 as a Visual Art Specialist. Leanne has worked at various schools in Gippsland, Geelong, Hobart and around the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, where she has taught every year level from Kinder to Year 7.

Leanne lives in Geelong with her husband and they have two children of whom they are extremely proud.

Leanne has a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a major in Psychology and Commerce. She has successfully completed the Inspire program at Bastow and worked as an ‘Education Changemaker’ as part of the Intercultural Capabilities Project.

Leanne is a ‘people person’ who genuinely cares about all students, staff and the wider community of Truganina College. She wants to make a difference in the lives of young people and focuses on supporting students’ social and emotional wellbeing. Leanne is passionate about making education engaging and motivating for students so they can achieve academic success.

Meet the Year 7 Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing and Engagement

Joshua Kamener joined Truganina P-9 in Term 4 of 2022. He has an Arts degree and his Masters of Teaching (secondary). He has also completed the Impact: Emerging Leaders program at Bastow and the Teach for Australia Leadership Development Program.

He has worked in a range of mainstream and specialist settings, teaching German, humanities and leading professional learning. Most recently he worked as an Assistant Principal of a school in custody.

Josh lives with his wife, two-year-old daughter and pet cavoodle in the western suburbs and is a self-proclaimed sports nerd.

He is passionate about inclusive education and school improvement and loves seeing young people enjoy their learning, believe in themselves and be hopeful about their future.

Meet the Year 8 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence

Daniel Piacquadio has worked in the Goulbourn Valley region supporting the diverse needs of a highly complex school as both a Literacy and Wellbeing and Engagement leader. He comes to Truganina with a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and Masters of Teaching Practice from RMIT.

He has a strong belief in supporting all students to reach their academic potential and incorporates his academic background in psychology to empower students through a restorative and introspective approach to understanding themselves as school and global citizens.

Daniel lives in Caroline Springs, cherishing the company of his wife, young child and two Labradoodles.

When you see them out in the yard be sure to introduce yourself.

Meet the Year 9 Assistant Principal -Teaching and Learning Excellence

James Bayard joined Truganina P-9 College in term 2, 2023. He has degrees in Science and Biomedical Science and completed his teaching qualification through the Teach for Australia Leadership Development Program. Having worked in the government school system for a decade, James has held a wide range of positions as a teacher and leader across P-12, including as a Science/maths teacher, curriculum leader, coach and most recently as leading teacher for year 9.

He has previously worked for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority building teaching capacity across the whole of Victoria and was also his school’s lead in the Victorian Teaching and Leadership Academy’s Leading Curriculum and Assessment program.

James is passionate about the connection between student wellbeing, agency and learning and the need to see the student as a whole person for them to be successful and grow. He is a basketball tragic and lives in Geelong with his partner and their cat and greyhounds.