About the Principal
Jane Howard has served as the Principal of Woodview School since August 2017. A lifelong educator, she began her career as a classroom teacher in primary education and progressed through roles as Head of Department, Deputy Principal, and finally school leader. Jane holds a Master of Educational Leadership from the University of Melbourne and is a certified member of the Australian Institute of Educational Leaders.
Her passion for inclusive learning environments and commitment to student wellbeing have shaped the schools culture over the past six years. Under her guidance, Woodview has consistently improved academic outcomes while fostering a supportive community for staff, students, and families.
Vision & Goals
Janes vision for Woodview is simple yet ambitious: Every learner thrives academically, socially and emotionally. To achieve this, she focuses on three core goals:
- HighQuality Teaching: Continuous professional development for staff, evidencebased instructional strategies, and a strong mentorship program for new teachers.
- Student WellBeing: Expanded mentalhealth services, a wholeschool approach to behaviour, and robust antibullying policies.
- Community Partnership: Strong ties with local businesses, cultural groups, and tertiary institutions to provide realworld learning opportunities.
These goals are regularly reviewed through data analysis, stakeholder surveys and the schools annual strategic plan.
Leadership Style
Jane employs a collaborative leadership model. She believes that the best decisions are made when teachers, students, parents and support staff have a voice. Key aspects of her style include:
- Distributed Leadership: Empowering teachers to lead gradelevel teams, curriculum clusters, and innovation pilots.
- Transparent Communication: Monthly newsletters, opendoor office hours, and an online portal where staff can access meeting minutes and policy updates.
- DataInformed DecisionMaking: Regular review of student performance data, attendance trends, and wellbeing indicators to guide interventions.
- Growth Mindset Culture: Celebrating effort and improvement as much as achievement; encouraging risktaking in pedagogy.
Key Achievements Since 2017
During Janes tenure, Woodview School has reached several milestones:
- IMPACT Rating rose from 67 to 84 (2023), reflecting significant gains in literacy and numeracy.
- Introduction of a STEAM hub that now serves over 1,200 studenthours per year.
- Establishment of a WellBeing Wednesdays program, reducing studentreported stress levels by 30% in three years.
- Launch of a community apprenticeship pathway with three local businesses, providing work experience for senior students.
- Recognition as a Green School (2021) after implementing campus-wide recycling, solar panels and a vegetable garden.
Community Involvement
Jane actively promotes community engagement. She chairs the Woodview Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) and works closely with the local council on the Safe Routes to School initiative. In addition, she invites local artists to conduct workshops, bringing cultural diversity into the classroom.
Through the Partner Schools program, Woodview now collaborates with two primary schools in neighboring suburbs, sharing resources and best practices, which has increased enrollment and broadened the schools reach.
Contact the Principal
For questions, partnership proposals or to arrange a visit, please use the following contact details:
- Email: jane.howard@woodview.edu.au
- Phone: (03) 9123 4567
- Office: 2nd Floor, Woodview School Administration Block
Jane welcomes open dialogue and encourages community members to share ideas that can further enhance the learning environment for all students.
