High Potential Learning Leaders Announcement

It is my pleasure to announce that MLC School has appointed two exceptional High Potential Learning Leaders. We were fortunate to once again be overwhelmed with very highly qualified and experienced applicants for this key role. As we have hundreds of high potential learners across Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, it was determined that the best course of action was to appoint two people to lead this work and I am delighted to announce that Amy Kirk (our much loved and respected Year 2 Coordinator) and James Adams have been successful. 

Amy Kirk is currently our outstanding Year 2 Coordinator in the Junior School and an active member of the AI Taskforce. Prior to teaching at MLC School, Amy was Gifted Education Team Leader and Classroom Teacher at Newington College Wyvern House, and Classroom Teacher at Meriden School. Amy is highly qualified to lead in this space, having completed a Master of Education (Gifted Education), and a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from USyd. She is currently working towards her Master of Educational Leadership. In 2021, Amy presented at the World Gifted Education Conference and she has been actively involved in leading professional learning at MLC School. Amy will continue in her current role as Year 2 Coordinator until the end of 2025 before taking up the position alongside James next year. She will be instrumental in shaping the new High Potential programs with Stephanie Dimitrelis and James in 2025.

James Adams brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, and he comes to us from Cranbrook School, where he is High Potential Coordinator and Head of Oratory and Debating. James has an HSIE background, specialising in IB/HSC Economics, Business Studies and Commerce. Like Amy, James has a strong academic background, with a Master of Science in Learning and Teaching from the University of Oxford, and his dissertation was a narrative case study investigation of the impact of a schoolwide Gifted and Talented programme on twice-exceptional students. He also holds a Master of Economics from the University of New England,  a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University Graduate School of Education He is currently studying a Master of Education in Education Leadership from Harvard University. James has also been a Casual Lecturer and Tutor at the University of Sydney, where he taught undergraduate and postgraduate units in gifted and inclusive education . Additionally, James has conducted educational research as a Research Associate at the Centre for Independent Studies. He is looking forward to the challenge of working with our high potential girls.

With a commitment to fostering high potential learning and a proven track record of success, Amy and James are well-suited to these vital positions at MLC School.

– Melissa McMahon
Head of Learning and Teaching