As the school-based leaders celebrate final days for Year 12 students across SCEA schools, thoughts turn to 2025 and the plans for staffing arrangements in each school. The recent announcements of Mr Paul Beacham finishing up at Southern Hills Christian College (SHCC) and Mrs Michelle Schouten being named the new Principal of Ellenbrook Christian College (ECC) demonstrate the ‘changing of seasons’ for leadership in SCEA schools.
Last week, Mr Paul Beacham announced to staff at SHCC that he will be concluding his employment at the end of Term 1, 2025. Paul has been a staff member since 1998 and has been an integral part of the teaching and administrative staff for over 25 years at SHCC (formerly Armadale Christian College).
Since 2017 he has been the College Principal at SHCC, and under his leadership, the school has grown and developed a strong reputation within the community. When Mr Beacham commenced, the school’s enrollment was 295, and it now has around 550 students with plans for future expansion.
Celebrating 25 years as a SCEA employee.
Mr Beacham’s legacy includes the formation of numerous service-learning trips, both domestically to Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School (CAPS) Kurrawang near Coolgardie, and the Philippines with the Leavers2Leaders program. The Philippines service-learning trips garnered international headlines in 2016 with Australia’s former Foreign Minister, the Honourable Julie Bishop MP, tweeting her support for the group, which had successfully lobbied for numerous livelihood projects in regional areas and visited the Australian Ambassador, Mrs Amanda Gorely, as part of the cultural exchange.
Visting a Special Needs school in La Carlota as part of the Leavers2Leaders program in The Philippines.
Visiting a church in The Philippines with students from SHCC.
Recently, the College has had success with the Year 11 Drama students reaching the upcoming ‘Act Belong Commit YOH Fest Grand Finals 2024’ in Mandurah, demonstrating the busy schedule that a growing K-12 College contends with each and every day of the school year.
“I have been extremely fortunate to serve with an incredible group of talented and mission-driven individuals over the years here at Southern Hills,” said Mr Beacham this week.
“We tend to focus on the big picture items at times like this – the buildings, the enrolment growth and the sustainability of the College. These things are absolutely necessary and integral to our survival as an institution. But I hope that my legacy in this place is for the students and families who have sought to grow and become part of a community that cares for one another, to be a point of stability when their lives face uncertainty, and to be a presence for Christ in a society that is searching for answers to life’s big questions.”
At the Australian Embassy in Manila with the Australian Ambassador, the Honourable Amanda Gorely and students from Swan Christian College, Ellenbrook Christian College and Southern Hills Christian College as part of the Leavers2Leaders program.
While the Bedfordale community prepares to honour Mr Beacham for his contribution and service, the staff at the ECC campus on Santona Boulevard in Ellenbrook were greeted with the news that former ECC teacher and current Regional Principal for Alta-1 Mrs Michelle Schouten as College Principal for ECC beginning in early 2025.
Avid SCEA News readers would remember Mrs Schouten from a SCEA News item in mid-2022. She was identified as an exemplary staff member and was asked to provide support in the areas of policy writing and curriculum development for Dr Thelma Perso (former Chief Education Officer of SCEA and current SCEA Board Member) prior to her retirement.
Dr Thelma Perso and Mrs Michelle Schouten working hard in 2022.
Mrs Schouten previously served at ECC in numerous senior roles from 2016-2023 and holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Educational Psychology (with Honours), and has undertaken significant professional development through the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education and the Avenir Leadership Institute.
She has also served as a WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) marker for five years in Mathematics.
