Jennifer Gibb, Director of Teaching and Learning at Faith Lutheran College, Plainland, is no stranger to school transformations. Her experience includes leading the Middle Years Curriculum at West Moreton Anglican College, Curriculum and Pedagogy at Trinity Lutheran College, and teaching all year levels from 1-12.

Recently, Mrs Gibb led the transformation of the Year 7-12 education program at Faith Lutheran College Plainland.

One day a week at the college, traditional teaching and learning is replaced with student-led learning. Some students participate in work traineeships, excursions, podcasts, photography, or sign language. Others play instruments, cook, dance, or learn a trade. These student-led learning activities culminate in a student-run community twilight market.

"It has reinvigorated the staff and teachers, as well as the students and families. Their eyes light up,” she said.

Mrs Gibb says it's about inspiring a love of learning and it is just one of the changes she has made as part of her transformation of the education program at the college.

Collaborating with the Principal, college council, and parent body, Mrs Gibb has led the transformation of the College's timetable, leadership structure, educational models, policies, and procedures in just 12 months.

“We have a really clear strategic direction. It’s so important to start with that,” she said.

The new timetable structure enables many modern practices at the school including introducing the three new learning phases - starting with a Foundation Phase – which brings what she describes as the “colour and life” of early childhood pedagogy to Years 7/8, with a focus on literacy, numeracy, and design thinking.

It's the Exploration Phase (Years 9/10) that's really exciting, she says. Teachers can create their own courses, authentically mapped to the Australian Curriculum, which they pitch to students before getting approved.

“We received 44 submissions from teachers who wrote their course in their own time because they were passionate about it,” Mrs Gibb said. Teachers include a former real estate agent, detective, photographer and electrical engineer.

“The staff are really excited, and our teachers are happy and that flows on to classroom with the kids. While there are a lot of things they must do, we are giving them a voice and a choice."

In the Graduate and Exploration Phase (Years 11/12), the key to learning is student agency, where a university model is used to approach learning. Students are mentored by a learning coach as they refine their study plans.

“It prepares them for life after school. All I want for our kids is to come out happy and curious, with choices to do whatever they want,” Mrs Gibb said.

A data-driven leader, she also been instrumental in the transformation of the College’s data capturing and analysis, to better understand its students.

Through an intensive focus on improving outcomes, every student is now tracked, mentored, and developed.

“Something might not be working that we need to continue iterating, tracking the progress, using the data. Once we start working with them, they do so much better.”

“The staff are really excited, and our teachers are happy and that flows on to classroom with the kids. While there are a lot of things they must do, we are giving them a voice and a choice."

The College describes itself as entering a model of education where authentic student voice and agency are put first.

“The key word,” says Mrs Gibb, “is authentic.”

Mrs Gibb is a finalist at the Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Awards, in the Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning category.

Winners will be announced October 27th, on the eve of World Teachers' Day in Queensland.