Chris Sarra
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Chris Sarra is Director of the Queensland Government's Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership[1]. He was previously Principal of the Cherbourg State School, a primary school in the town of Cherbourg, Queensland. When Sarra first arrived, in August, 1998, the school was well below the state average on most indices. Slowly, Sarra's Strong and Smart vision lifted community expectations and transformed the school into a school with below average rates of truancy, growth in student numbers and low levels of vandalism. Chris Sarra's transformation of the school was recognised when he received the award of 2004 "Queenslander of the Year". The work at Cherbourg State School is the subject of a documentary entitled 'Strong and Smart' produced the the Australian Story series on ABC TV[2].
Changes achieved [3]:
- 94% reduction in absenteeism
- significant improvements in literacy and numeracy
[edit] Notes
- ^ Queensland Government Media Release "Indigenous Leadership Institute kicks goals"
- ^ Good Morning Mr Sarra on ABC TV Australian Story broadcast on 4 Oct 2004
- ^ 2004 QUT Chris Sarra: Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Education Award Winner
