Welcoming our new Head of Junior School Maria Hodges
Scotch College is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Maria Hodges as the new Head of Junior School for Scotch College.
Mrs Hodges is currently the Head of Junior School at Wesley College, which has an enrolment of 330 students from PK to Year 4. She has created a collegial and professional environment, leading the Junior School team with energy, powerful relationships and an industrialist drive since 2017.
Over her time at Wesley she has grown enrolments and retention through her strong personal alignment with the community. This year, Wesley College's Junior School achieved the highest number of classes and students in its history and Mrs Hodges' dynamic personal qualities and leadership style played a significant role in achieving this through fostering the academic, pastoral, co-curricular, cultural and spiritual development of the students in her care.
We believe that Mrs Hodges's values and professional standards closely align with Scotch College, and with a background as a successful educational leader over many years and across a number of schools, she is well placed to lead our Junior School through its next phase of growth.
Mrs Hodges has a Bachelor of Business (Personnel and Industrial Relations) from Curtin University and a Graduate Diploma of Education at Murdoch University. Prior to discovering a deep passion for teaching after having had her own family, she had a successful corporate career in Melbourne.
Her educational employment history includes Head of Junior School at Wesley College (2017–20); Director of Pastoral Care, Planning and Co-curricular (2013–16) and Classroom Teacher at Christ Church Grammar School (2010–12); and Head of Junior School at St Andrew's Grammar (2003–09).
Mrs Hodges understands the importance of our College's Uniting Church foundations and will act as an exemplary role model for our young students and staff. She is accomplished in coaching and mentoring her team and new leaders within the IPSHA network.
In addition, she regularly hosts Women in Leadership networking meetings and has presented at several international conferences, including the International Boys' Schools Coalition events in the United States.
We are confident that Mrs Hodges' proven Junior School leadership experience within the context of both boys' education and co-education, coupled with her strong business acumen, will enable her to lead our Junior School into the next phase of development.
Please welcome Mrs Maria Hodges, her husband Warren and their adult daughters Georgi and Krysti into the Scotch Community for the start of Spring Term 2020.
We would like to acknowledge the leadership of our Acting Head of Junior School Ms Penny Hooper and her staff. Their commitment and professionalism during this transition phase has been exemplary.
Dr Alec O'Connell
Headmaster
