love life, love learning, love people
Welcome to www.dougjthomas.net.
This year, 2023, I celebrate 35 years in my career as an educator. I am pleased to share my ongoing professional learning journey with you. As I do this, I grow too! Husband and dad first.
I am a primary principal and I love my school. I started working at Claremont in 1996, initially as Deputy Principal for 11 years. Claremont means the world to me and I care deeply for the kids, teachers and our special community.
This year has been significant for me. In August I was awarded The Australian Primary Principal of the Year (Non-Government School) and also one of Australia's 'Education Hot List Top 50' (2023)- representing the cutting edge of educational excellence in Australia. TheEducator wrote...
"after receiving hundreds of nominations, The Educator began the arduous task of evaluating each nominee based on the overall impact of their work in the K-12 education sector over the past 12 months, demonstrating expertise in linking theory and practice, and designing and implementing innovations that provide students with high-quality educational experiences during these unprecedented times."
I am a principal who loves life and thinking about education, leadership, school design and creating a school culture where kids and teachers thrive in their learning. I am passionate about the environment, social justice, advocating for the education of kids and people in poverty and making the world a happier and better place. My work in India continues to also be incredibly important to me. I am so proud of my team who work tirelessly for so many kids who otherwise have limited opportunity and little resources to be able to attend school. I would love for you to connect and support what I'm doing.
In relation to this website I had a bit of a hiatus during the pandemic. I was busy! As many school leaders (and certainly all teachers!) found, the response to COVID was considerable and took its toll on us all. I am so proud of my school and what my team and community achieved together - just inspirational! During the pandemic, although I was unable to travel, my work in India also continued intensively. We needed to feed thousands of people who were in lockdown and unable to earn an income or have enough to eat (students, their families and communities). Project Help India responded to our students physical and educational needs in many ways. Being highly vulnerable children we kept them safe too from local mafia, drugs, forced labour and begging -regularly checking in on their welfare. You can read about what we did if you visit www.projecthelpindia.co/blog
Contributing to Australian and global education ...and the cause of human flourishing and making the world a better place
Some Conference Presentations that I have given
2011 - AISNSW Primary Conference (Sydney)
- ‘Implementing a Thinking and Learning Curriculum’
2016 - AISNSW National ICT Conference (Canberra)
- ‘Developing and implementing a successful ICT Strategic Plan’
2016 - AISNSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference (Sydney)
- ‘Our Journey and Initiatives at Claremont College’
2016 - EduTECH (Brisbane)
- ‘School Transformation and Change Management’
- ‘ICT Strategic Planning for Business Managers’
2016 - Criterion Conferences (Melbourne and Sydney)
- ‘Flexible Learning Spaces and the Claremont College Research Project’
2016 - Criterion Conferences (Sydney)
- ‘Ensuring Student Engagement within a Differentiated Curriculum’
2017 - Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development ASCD
Empower Conference (Los Angeles)
- ‘Co-Teaching Aussie Style’
2017 - Criterion Conferences (Sydney)
- ‘Flexible Learning Spaces and the Claremont College Research Project’
2017 - Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) Masterclass
‘The Claremont College Transformation story: Pedagogy and Learning Spaces’
2017 EduTECH Asia, K-12 Leadership Strand (Singapore)
- ‘Assessing the Hallmarks of Outstanding 21st Century K-12 Leaders’ (panel member)
- ‘Co-Teaching in Flexible Learning Spaces’ (2 hour workshop, co facilitator)
2018 Learning Environments Australia (LEA) National Conference (Sydney)
- The Claremont College Story (School tour and visitors’ presentation)
2019 National Future Schools Expo and Conferences, Leadership Strand (Melbourne)
- ‘Planning for the Future: Change, Strategic Planning and a Leadership Toolkit for Disruption and your Personal Wellbeing’ - speaker
- ‘Strategies for School Leaders to Realise Learning Improvement’ - Principals’ Panel
2019 Informa Conferences School Planning, Design & Construction Summit (Melbourne)
- Transforming Learning Spaces: Educational research, design and leadership principles to consider for sustained success.
2019 IPSHA Leadership Masterclass (Sydney)
- ‘Exploring Future School Leadership’
2019 International Confederation of Principals Convention (Shanghai)
- ‘Are you a Future Schools Leader?’
2019 EduTECH Asia, K-12 Leadership Strand (Singapore)
- ‘Co-Teaching: A model for student and teachers’ (workshop co-facilitator)
- Change, Strategic Planning and a Leadership tool-kit for disruption and your personal well-being’ (Pecha Kucha presentation)
- ‘Being a Future School Leader’ Teacher Tech Talks (Round Table Facilitator)
2020 School Building & Maintenance Summit (online delivery) - Claremont College: A case study focussing on transforming learning spaces whilst drawing on specifics such as educational research, design and leadership principles for sustained success.
Leadership Mentoring and Teacher Training
Biography
I am the Principal of Claremont College, an Anglican co-educational primary school in Randwick, Sydney where he has been the Principal for 16 years. I love my school! Claremont College is recognised for its educational excellence and innovation. The school’s whole-school learning space transformation and refurbishment project has received a number of architectural awards. Claremont College has received world-wide attention for the implementation of an innovative team focussed co-teaching model. As a case study, the change management story behind the transformation and its success is powerful.
My passions and interests include; creating an inclusive, vibrant and positive school culture, supporting and promoting teacher professional learning, developing global connections, student voice and resilience, as well as developing exciting and engaging parent programs, especially empowering and equipping fathers through the Fathering Project.
I travel every year to India where I'm involved in education projects, setting up schools for slum kids and others in remote locations who otherwise would have no access to a school. I train teachers and prior to COVID delivered leadership seminars to university students. I have also been involved in training the local police, social workers and NGO's in anti-human trafficking programs and community problem solving initiatives such as stopping children from begging and getting them out of child labour and into school. Sadly with COVID, the need to advocate for those living in poverty has only increased, and the kids that my team and I work with have become more vulnerable to local mafia, drugs and alcohol.
This year, 2023, I celebrate 35 years in my career as an educator. I am pleased to share my ongoing professional learning journey with you. As I do this, I grow too! Husband and dad first.
I am a primary principal and I love my school. I started working at Claremont in 1996, initially as Deputy Principal for 11 years. Claremont means the world to me and I care deeply for the kids, teachers and our special community.
This year has been significant for me. In August I was awarded The Australian Primary Principal of the Year (Non-Government School) and also one of Australia's 'Education Hot List Top 50' (2023)- representing the cutting edge of educational excellence in Australia. TheEducator wrote...
"after receiving hundreds of nominations, The Educator began the arduous task of evaluating each nominee based on the overall impact of their work in the K-12 education sector over the past 12 months, demonstrating expertise in linking theory and practice, and designing and implementing innovations that provide students with high-quality educational experiences during these unprecedented times."
I am a principal who loves life and thinking about education, leadership, school design and creating a school culture where kids and teachers thrive in their learning. I am passionate about the environment, social justice, advocating for the education of kids and people in poverty and making the world a happier and better place. My work in India continues to also be incredibly important to me. I am so proud of my team who work tirelessly for so many kids who otherwise have limited opportunity and little resources to be able to attend school. I would love for you to connect and support what I'm doing.
In relation to this website I had a bit of a hiatus during the pandemic. I was busy! As many school leaders (and certainly all teachers!) found, the response to COVID was considerable and took its toll on us all. I am so proud of my school and what my team and community achieved together - just inspirational! During the pandemic, although I was unable to travel, my work in India also continued intensively. We needed to feed thousands of people who were in lockdown and unable to earn an income or have enough to eat (students, their families and communities). Project Help India responded to our students physical and educational needs in many ways. Being highly vulnerable children we kept them safe too from local mafia, drugs, forced labour and begging -regularly checking in on their welfare. You can read about what we did if you visit www.projecthelpindia.co/blog
Contributing to Australian and global education ...and the cause of human flourishing and making the world a better place
Some Conference Presentations that I have given
2011 - AISNSW Primary Conference (Sydney)
- ‘Implementing a Thinking and Learning Curriculum’
2016 - AISNSW National ICT Conference (Canberra)
- ‘Developing and implementing a successful ICT Strategic Plan’
2016 - AISNSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference (Sydney)
- ‘Our Journey and Initiatives at Claremont College’
2016 - EduTECH (Brisbane)
- ‘School Transformation and Change Management’
- ‘ICT Strategic Planning for Business Managers’
2016 - Criterion Conferences (Melbourne and Sydney)
- ‘Flexible Learning Spaces and the Claremont College Research Project’
2016 - Criterion Conferences (Sydney)
- ‘Ensuring Student Engagement within a Differentiated Curriculum’
2017 - Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development ASCD
Empower Conference (Los Angeles)
- ‘Co-Teaching Aussie Style’
2017 - Criterion Conferences (Sydney)
- ‘Flexible Learning Spaces and the Claremont College Research Project’
2017 - Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) Masterclass
‘The Claremont College Transformation story: Pedagogy and Learning Spaces’
2017 EduTECH Asia, K-12 Leadership Strand (Singapore)
- ‘Assessing the Hallmarks of Outstanding 21st Century K-12 Leaders’ (panel member)
- ‘Co-Teaching in Flexible Learning Spaces’ (2 hour workshop, co facilitator)
2018 Learning Environments Australia (LEA) National Conference (Sydney)
- The Claremont College Story (School tour and visitors’ presentation)
2019 National Future Schools Expo and Conferences, Leadership Strand (Melbourne)
- ‘Planning for the Future: Change, Strategic Planning and a Leadership Toolkit for Disruption and your Personal Wellbeing’ - speaker
- ‘Strategies for School Leaders to Realise Learning Improvement’ - Principals’ Panel
2019 Informa Conferences School Planning, Design & Construction Summit (Melbourne)
- Transforming Learning Spaces: Educational research, design and leadership principles to consider for sustained success.
2019 IPSHA Leadership Masterclass (Sydney)
- ‘Exploring Future School Leadership’
2019 International Confederation of Principals Convention (Shanghai)
- ‘Are you a Future Schools Leader?’
2019 EduTECH Asia, K-12 Leadership Strand (Singapore)
- ‘Co-Teaching: A model for student and teachers’ (workshop co-facilitator)
- Change, Strategic Planning and a Leadership tool-kit for disruption and your personal well-being’ (Pecha Kucha presentation)
- ‘Being a Future School Leader’ Teacher Tech Talks (Round Table Facilitator)
2020 School Building & Maintenance Summit (online delivery) - Claremont College: A case study focussing on transforming learning spaces whilst drawing on specifics such as educational research, design and leadership principles for sustained success.
Leadership Mentoring and Teacher Training
- Mentor a Principal as part of the AIS NSW Leadership ‘Flagship Program’ (2015 -2018 and 2023)
- IPSHA NSW New Principals Mentor Program (2018 and 2022)
- Watoto Principals Mentorship, Executive Leadership Team Development, Strategic Planning and School Improvement Review, Kampala Uganda (2018)
- Mentor of leaders and teacher training at ‘Vision Rescue’ (NGO), Mumbai, India (2013 - present)
- Teacher Training and Leadership Mentoring, Kotdwara, India (2013 - present)
Biography
I am the Principal of Claremont College, an Anglican co-educational primary school in Randwick, Sydney where he has been the Principal for 16 years. I love my school! Claremont College is recognised for its educational excellence and innovation. The school’s whole-school learning space transformation and refurbishment project has received a number of architectural awards. Claremont College has received world-wide attention for the implementation of an innovative team focussed co-teaching model. As a case study, the change management story behind the transformation and its success is powerful.
My passions and interests include; creating an inclusive, vibrant and positive school culture, supporting and promoting teacher professional learning, developing global connections, student voice and resilience, as well as developing exciting and engaging parent programs, especially empowering and equipping fathers through the Fathering Project.
I travel every year to India where I'm involved in education projects, setting up schools for slum kids and others in remote locations who otherwise would have no access to a school. I train teachers and prior to COVID delivered leadership seminars to university students. I have also been involved in training the local police, social workers and NGO's in anti-human trafficking programs and community problem solving initiatives such as stopping children from begging and getting them out of child labour and into school. Sadly with COVID, the need to advocate for those living in poverty has only increased, and the kids that my team and I work with have become more vulnerable to local mafia, drugs and alcohol.
visit my blog >
www.projecthelpindia.co
www.claremont.nsw.edu.au
