GUARDIAN Angels’ School, Wynnum, principal Peter Blundell is the latest recipient of the prestigious Tom Fitzsimon Award.
The peer-nominated, professional learning award was named in honour of Tom Fitzsimon, a former assistant director of Brisbane Catholic Education.
The award recognises a strong commitment to professional learning in the fields of leadership and education.
Nominees must have demonstrated their commitment to their own professional learning during the previous 12 months, have shared their experiences with colleagues and put what they had learnt into practice.
Mr Blundell, who along with Frank Hennessy led a drive for the Tom Fitzsimon Lecture, said he was humbled to receive the award.
“I am proud to be in the company of previous winners that included people like Rick Sheehan, Terry Gimpel, Jim Midgley, Steve Taylor and Anne McKenny,” he said.
“On a personal note, I am actually very proud to be nominated by my peers for this award, proud to be associated with the name of Tom Fitzsimon.
“On a professional level, the practical part of this award will assist with some of the reading to link my last sabbatical with my next one.
“Professional development is never wasted.”
BCE executive director Pam Betts presented Mr Blundell with the award at the annual Brisbane Archdiocesan Catholic Primary Principals’ Association AGM, with Tom’s widow Margaret in attendance.
BACPPA president David Cashman said Mr Blundell’s leadership and commitment to schools within the archdiocese had been outstanding over many years.
He said Mr Blundell had generously provided wisdom, encouragement and support to numerous principals throughout this time, being a friend to all and a mentor to many.
“Peter has a very comprehensive understanding of what translates to effective educational practice,” Mr Cashman said.
He said Mr Blundell’s latest project was to trial another formal role to enhance learning.
“Peter has examined the use of a learning co-ordinator position with a small number of other schools,” Mr Cashman said.
“Uniquely, he has used this as a vehicle to integrate and then extend the myriad of ways that learning is being promoted at Guardian Angels’ – bringing together visible learning, their work in the DELT initiative, the five faces of the quality teacher project and the learning think tank – which develops ‘spectacular’ learning initiatives.”
Mr Cashman said this extensive focus on learning was a hallmark of Mr Blundell’s leadership, as he used this model to build capacity in everyone in his community and present an example for his colleagues.
“Peter’s mantra, ‘We all grow and develop around here’ is about honouring each of these,” he said.
“I’m sure that anyone who knows them both would agree that Tom would be delighted that Peter is receiving this award presented in his honour.”
