I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kort Goodman to the position of Principal at St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba beginning in January 2020. This appointment follows the Toowoomba Catholic Schools procedure for the recruitment and selection of principals and involves advertising, short-listing, interviewing and referee checks. I would like to thank Fr Ray Crowley (College Chaplain), Mr John O’Brien (Chair of the College Board), Mr Jim Midgley (Director Teaching and Learning) and Mr John Coman (Senior Education Leader and Panel Chair) for their work in this process.
Kort has 25 years’ experience in a variety of educational settings including Mt Isa, Roma, Stanthorpe, Toowoomba and Warwick. He is currently the Principal of Assumption College Warwick where he has led the school through a very significant journey of growth in enrolment and school improvement since the beginning of 2016. A committed strategic focus on improving student learning and wellbeing, along with building the capacity of staff to work together to achieve this improvement have been the hallmarks of his leadership. As a result, the standing and reputation of Assumption College in the Warwick community have been significantly enhanced. Kort has always been regarded as an exceptional teacher. He has taught Physical Education, Business, Mathematics, Science and Religious Education. Kort was Deputy Principal at St John’s Roma for 6 and a half years, Deputy Principal at St Mary’s College Toowoomba for 5 years and Acting Principal at St John’s Roma and St Joseph’s Stanthorpe for 6 months each prior to his appointment to Assumption College.
Kort’s vision as a leader of a Catholic school is “to work with the community of the school to create an environment that is welcoming and characterised by faith, hope, love and moral and social formation.” He also sees his role as to “work with staff to provide a safe and secure environment so that learning can be a priority”. Kort is committed to transparency in decision making and using student performance data to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning as part of the cycle of continual improvement. Kort has completed a Masters Degree in Education Leadership from the Australian Catholic University and a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from the Queensland University of Technology with a major in Physical Education and minors in Mathematics and Business Education. He has completed a Certificate 4 in Systematic Theology from the Institute of Faith and The Theological Intensive Short Course at KU Leuven.
Kort has been actively involved in sport, sport administration and coaching for many years. He holds accreditation as a Level 3 Sports Trainer, Level 2 Coaching: Rugby League, and Level 1 Coaching: Rugby Union, Australian Rules Football and Cricket. In 2020 he will be the Queensland Catholic Education Commission representative on the Queensland School Sports Board. He has been a member of the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Council since 2015 and has been the Manager of the Australian Schoolboys Rugby League Team.
Kort and his family are actively involved in the parishes where they have lived. We look forward to Kort’s contribution to the further development of St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba. I am sure that you will join with me in welcoming Kort, Mandy and their family to the St Joseph’s College and wider Toowoomba communities.
