In the immortalised words of American Football coach Vince Lombardi: “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.”
At Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS), our educators and leaders are not just committed to excelling, but continually growing in their ability to guide and inspire. This means they can focus on what truly matters: ensuring all 73,000 of our students achieve a meaningful and faith-filled education.
We spoke with several leaders from across our system to shine a spotlight on what it means to be an effective educator, the art of teaching, the joy of inspiring, and the power of shaping young minds for a brighter future.
1) Diane Cowan – Principal at St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School Coogee
Diane has made her mark at SCS serving in various roles, including Coordinator, REC, Assistant Principal and currently as the Principal at St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School. As a proud former student of an SCS school, she carries forward the same Catholic values and experiences to her school today.
Backed by SCS’s solid professional development and a culture of collaboration, Diane thrives in an environment where continuous learning and a shared mission empower her to lead with purpose, all while staying true to the values at the heart of the school.
Diane is particularly proud of her role in developing professional learning plans for staff and witnessing their successful implementation in the classroom, ultimately reflected in student individualised achievements.
She’s also actively involved in the broader SCS community, serving as a leader in sports programs and the Catholic Education Foundation’s scholarship initiatives.
“We share a mission that is authentically Catholic, while striving for excellence with our students,” Diane said.
2) Joseph Lentini – Assistant Principal at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Oatley
Stepping into a school leadership position was an easy choice for Joseph. The decision culminated in a life-long passion for learning and his drive to make a positive impact on his students’ lives.
Working at the “beautiful and charming one-stream school” has been an absolute blessing, in no small part thanks to the children and parents Joseph feels privileged to work alongside.
An alumni of St Gertrude’s Catholic Primary School Smithfield and Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield, his Catholic education and experiences have shaped the person and leader he is today.
Joseph is particularly proud of the strong relationships he’s had the opportunity to develop with his colleagues, students, families and the wider parish community at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Oatley.
“Of course, I always want our students to leave school literate and numerate, but most importantly, inherently good people. That’s our distinguishing point of being part of SCS, our faith in Jesus Christ and framing everything we do through that Catholic lens,” Joseph said.
Assistant Principal Joseph speaking with a colleague
3) Clair-Maree Simpson – Assistant Principal at Mount St Joseph Catholic College Milperra
Clair-Maree has always been passionate about education and in particular, empowering young women. As Assistant Principal at Mount St Joseph Catholic College, her role allows her “to provide students with the skills, resilience, and courage to face the world”.
Throughout her career, Clair-Maree has had unique experiences within SCS, such as the chance to integrate pastoral care with learning – opportunities rarely found elsewhere.
One of the most important lessons she has learned is that great leadership involves the ability to truly listen and be present for those you’re supporting: it’s essential to focus on the individual’s story and narrative, giving those around us our full attention. Passion for your work is crucial, but being fully engaged with the people you support is equally vital.
“To be an educator at Sydney Catholic Schools is to be fully dedicated to the belief that every child deserves a high-quality Catholic education and be willing to put in the hard work to make that vision a reality,” Clair-Maree said.
4) Joel Jarrett – Dean of Operations K-10 at All Saints Catholic College Liverpool 
Joel’s strong faith and family values led him to join SCS, where he commenced his career as a dedicated Primary School teacher. Over the years, he has taken on various roles, gaining valuable experience before stepping into his current position as Dean of Operations K-10.
With a desire to make a greater impact, Joel’s primary focus is on creating a nurturing school community that empowers students to grow in their well-being, faith, and academic success.
Joel believes that being an empathetic leader is one of the most important qualities you can bring, if not the most important. He emphasises that it enables leaders to read situations involving students, parents, and staff, and adjust their responses or decisions based on how others might react.
To Joel, empathy is crucial because every decision, big or small, has a lasting impact on those you serve.
“We have a very clear, distinctive approach as a system that resonates with me, centered around the fact that Christ is at the forefront of everything we do,” Joel said.
