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Principal to become USC Senior Fellow
9 April 2009
The founding principal of Chancellor State College John Lockhart will become an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of the Sunshine Coast on Friday 17 April.
Mr Lockhart, 53, headed the establishment of the Preschool to Year 12 (P-12) college at Sippy Downs in 2003, incorporating the original state school.
He is now acting principal at Kawana Waters State College at Bokarina.
“This award from USC is extraordinary,” Mr Lockhart said. “I’m overwhelmed to be offered such recognition for just doing my job.
“The community is very important to me, both as a father of three and a professional working in it.
“A sense of community is the lifeblood of support, positive change and development for young people. My job as an educator is to make sure they have opportunities in the future.”
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM, who will present the award at the University’s Graduation ceremony, said Mr Lockhart was a visionary and a charismatic leader who gained deep respect from staff, students and the community.
Professor Thomas said Mr Lockhart created strong bonds between Chancellor State College and USC.
“John was involved in joint international programs with us, for example with New York State University for professional development of their teachers,” Professor Thomas said.
“Whenever opportunities arose for collaboration, John became personally involved, such as when shared use of sporting facilities was being promoted with the local council, Education Queensland and the university.”
Mr Lockhart, who started teaching in Brisbane in 1976, said his career highlight had been developing the college in partnership with USC to create a unique educational precinct at Sippy Downs over the past 10 years.
“We’ve laid the foundations for a world-class example of cross-sector cooperation,” he said.
Mr Lockhart said he hoped to expand the concept to build multiple career pathways for Kawana Waters State College students, linking them to training such as USC and TAFE and to industry such as allied health involving the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to be built at Kawana.
“We must work together as a region to create opportunities for young people to experience world class education, job opportunities and enhanced lifestyle,” he said.
— Julie Gatehouse