Head of School
Grace Vai-Stierman
B.Sc. Chem & Bio; Dip. Tchg, M. Ed; (First Class Hons), University of Auckland
Grace Vai-Stierman is an experienced and highly qualified educator and leader with a great passion for collaborative leadership and a strong commitment to Dr Rudolf Steiner’s philosophies and teachings.
Grace has worked variously as a secondary Science teacher, specifically in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Her journey in education strengthened through leadership positions, including Head of Science Faculty, Senior School Science moderator, member of Curriculum review teams, Intervention and Support Coordinator to a consultant delivering educational workshops.
Her work in educational leadership – founded on the Samoan principles of tautua ma le alofa (to serve with love); fa’a’alo’alo (respect for all) and naunau (to persistently seek greatness) – purposefully fosters high quality inclusive practices in schools that she served in Samoa, New Zealand and South Australia. Grace has experience, knowledge and understanding of the learning needs, strengths and capacity of students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
With a natural curiosity and love for learning, Grace believes in education as the moral imperative of our time and courageously presents her stewardship to WWS as worthy of imitation. Grace has a keen awareness of the critical importance of parent-teacher collaboration and encourages the three-fold partnership of parent, educator and student.
Part of the Head of School vision for Willunga is a generative and contemporary expression of Steiner’s pedagogy so that our students receive a nourishing, rich and responsive education enabling our young people to lead meaningful lives.
Grace is responsible for the day to day leadership and management of the school in collaboration with the Business Manager, Leadership Team and College of Teachers. The Head of School has responsibility for overall accountabilities and is charged with authority and executive power, to act in the best interests of the school, and to enact agreements and policies.
The Head of School is formally accountable to the School Council and is reviewed annually with input from all stakeholders.
Leadership Team
The leadership team includes the Early Childhood, Primary School and High School Coordinators plus the Head of School and Business Manager who work in close collaboration with the College of Teachers and all faculties.
Business Manager – Graeme Tucker
Primary School Coordinator – Jodie Thomas
Early Childhood Coordinator – Irene Bragg
High School Coordinator – Sophie Binder
Learning Support Coordinator – Sandra Van Vliet
College of Teachers
College Chair – Andrew Banks
College Chair – Rebecca Hicks
The College of Teachers is the body responsible for the pedagogical leadership of the school and the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the education of students at Willunga Waldorf School. It is actively engaged in shaping the culture, direction and evolution of the school. The College meets weekly to explore pedagogical and cultural questions, based on both study and experience.
Student Leadership
Students from Classes 8 to 12 are delivered to the student leadership team each year by their peers on the basis of qualities of leadership as determined and agreed by the student body. The student leadership team works with teachers and students to organise special school events and provide student voice in matters of policy and procedure.