Excellence in education
Teresa Hennessey enrolled at Caboolture SHS in 1988, completing Year 12 in 1992, when she was School Captain. She excelled in sport, particularly volleyball, became a Queensland Representative in 1990, with her team becoming National Champions, and was also named CSHS Sportswoman of the Year. Tess was a Fraser House leader, a Student Council Representative and SAFE leader, and won academic awards in Art & HPE. In Year 12, she was awarded the Leadership Award and the Senior Caltex All Rounder Award.
In 1996, Tess graduated from Griffith University, completing a Bachelor of Science (Biology and Science, Technology and Society), and a Graduate Diploma in Education. She began teaching at Baralaba State School P-10 in 1997, moving to Tara Shire State College in 2000. Tess took on a number of leadership roles across the curriculum, working with Preschool to Year 12, including being the Cluster Facilitator for the district primary schools, accessing grants to provide many opportunities to geographically isolated students.
In 2007, when Deputy Principal at Kepnock SHS, Tess was a recipient of a Ministers Award for Future Education in Teacher Excellence. Here, Tess gained a wealth of experience across all facets of the high school, leading state and regional projects to improve learning outcomes for students, foster teacher capabilities and promote public education. Her leadership contributed to Kepnock SHS winning the 2012 State Showcase Award for Excellence in Schools, and the Jack Pizzey Award in 2014 for School Leadership.
Appointed Principal at the Jabiru Campus of West Arnhem College in the Northern Territory in 2010, Tess met the challenges there with a strong understanding of connection with curriculum, the value of technology and the importance of building community relationships.
In 1961, Tess's mother was a foundation student at CSHS. Tess's return to her alma mater as Deputy Principal in 2021 has been a homecoming for her, and her family, in the 60th Anniversary year of Caboolture SHS.