Term 3 Staff Development Day

On Monday, Cranbrook School had the great pleasure of welcoming our 9th Head of School, Dr Anne Johnstone.

Dr Johnstone opened the day with a thoughtful and inspiring address in which she shared her philosophy of education that schools should be places where students are not only stretched intellectually, but also supported emotionally, morally and spiritually. Education, she emphasised, should nurture the whole person and empower young people to flourish with purpose, resilience and joy.

She spoke candidly about how her philosophy was shaped by her own journey as an educator, particularly her drive to better understand and support students struggling with failure avoidance, perfectionism and pressure. This deepening interest led her to undertake further academic study, completing a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a PhD in Education at the University of Melbourne. In her doctoral research, she developed the concept of an ‘Other Person Mindset’ – a transformative model of wellbeing based on the idea that by intentionally building the wellbeing of others, individuals also enhance their own capacity to flourish.

Dr Johnstone also reflected on Cranbrook’s proud history and the powerful values embedded in the School, including its motto Esse Quam Videri – to be, rather than to seem to be – which calls us to live with authenticity and integrity. She spoke of how closely these values align with her own, and how they support students to fulfil their potential.

Above all, Dr Johnstone spoke with a sense of hope, a genuine optimism for this new chapter in Cranbrook’s story, and for what we can achieve together as a community.

Her address set the tone for an uplifting Appreciative Inquiry session, which brought together staff from across our Preschools, Junior School and Senior School campuses. Guided by the 4D model (Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver) we reflected on Cranbrook’s core strengths, shared stories of impact, and imagined bold aspirations for the School’s future.

Staff collaborated in focus groups exploring areas such as teaching and learning, wellbeing, professional growth, co-curricular life, and community engagement. These rich discussions revealed the depth of expertise, care and commitment that characterise our community, and the collective energy to move forward with purpose.

Thank you, Dr Johnstone, for your leadership and vision. We’re excited for the journey ahead and grateful to be shaping it together.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning