Overview

Meet the Principal

Jenny Crowle was appointed to the position of Principal at Truganina College in August 2014.

Jenny comes to Truganina College from her last role as Principal of Moonee Ponds West Primary School. Under Jenny’s direction and guidance at Moonee Ponds West the student’s achieved outstanding academic results, well above state averages.

Jenny lives in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and is married to Lynden Crowle and has two children, Rohan and Patrick.

Jenny has a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Education and a Postgraduate Diploma in Student Wellbeing from Melbourne University.

Jenny is passionate about Truganina College having a respectful culture, with high academic expectations, achievement and results. Learning is supported by strong community engagement within a climate of care and concern for others.

Meet the Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence
Foundation – Year 9

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 Foundation and Year 6 School Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence

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 Year 1 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence

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 Year 3 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence
Subjects Co-ordinator F-9

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 4 Assistant Principal – 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 Years 2 and 5 Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning Excellence

Vanitha Sujith joined Truganina College in Term 4, 2015. Vanitha has taught for many years in Singapore before she settled in Melbourne with her family and has taught in schools in the Western Suburbs. She has a Bachelor of English with Psychology, a Diploma in Education, and a Diploma in Mass Communications.

Vanitha lives in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne with her husband and son.

Vanitha is passionate about working with staff and the wider community to help mould our future generations to be global, compassionate citizens.

Meet the Year 7 Assistant Principal – Teaching And Learning Excellence

Brad Robertson joined Truganina College in 2017 as a Year One classroom Teacher. Brad has led teams across the College in Year One, Six and Seven and has been a Learning Specialist with a focus on Student Engagement and Agency since 2019.

Brad is now the Acting Assistant Principal; Teaching and Learning Excellence. Brad Graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Teaching (Primary). Brad has also completed a Bachelor of Social Science with a double major in Justice Studies and National Security at the University of Canberra.

Brad has also completed the INSPIRE program at Bastow.

He lives in the northern suburbs with his partner and their pet labradoodle Roger. Brad is passionate about developing strong relationships with students and teachers to ensure all have the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.

Meet the Year 8 Assistant Principal – Teaching And Learning Excellence

Justine Ryan joined Truganina College in 2016 as a Leading Teacher/Pedagogy Coach and now as an Assistant Principal; Teaching and Learning Excellence. Justine brings experience to the College in the areas of Adult Education, Gifted Education, Children’s Literature and Languages.

Justine has worked at a number of educational settings in Melbourne including Williamstown North Primary, Williamstown Primary, Cambridge Primary and Moonee Ponds West and as a Teaching Fellow for The University of Melbourne. She has also written a number of educational texts for Oxford University Press and Pearson Education.

Justine studied at the University of Melbourne and has also successfully completed the CREATE program at Bastow and a Child Psychology course. She has two children and also loves animals!

Justine is passionate about education and leading each student and each teacher to reach their full potential.

Meet the Year 5-9 Middle Years School Assistant Principal
Year 9 Area

Christopher Pugh joined Truganina College as an Assistant Principal in Term 2 2019. Christopher brings experience to the Middle Years as well as Senior Years, coming from his previous leadership roles.

Before Christopher’s endeavours in Education, he was employed across Australia in  Communication Design and Marketing after studying a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication which included studies in the United States. Christopher has a Graduate Diploma of Education (Applied Learning) and has also successfully completed the Inspire: Local Leaders and Unlocking Potential at the Bastow Institute for Educational Leadership, which included a Graduate Diploma of Principal Preparation through Monash University.

Christopher is a leader who is passionate about engaging learners in all aspects of their growth and preparing them for their future schooling and career pathways – that is developing students who will be positive contributors to the community and are ready to tackle the demands of a rapidly evolving 21st Century. He’s passionate to contribute to the success of Truganina College in providing students with an environment that inspires learning, promotes positive relationships, a sense of belonging and a culture of respect, success and pride.