Meet Gregory Golder, Head of Junior Secondary

Greg is also a proud First Nations descendant and heads up the Coomera Anglican College Reconciliation Action Plan Committee. 

We took the opportunity to ask Greg some interesting questions about his teaching career and approach and some sage advice he has for his students.

What inspired you to pursue a career in education?

To be perfectly honest, I’ve always wanted to travel and explore the world. As a younger man I didn’t really look too far into the future, so I gained a qualification that would allow me to travel the world and find work universally. This certainly facilitated this ambition for 4.5 years in the Northern Hemisphere.

What aspects of your First Nations heritage and culture do you draw on to inform your leadership approach and decision-making as a Head of Junior Secondary School?
A collective community focus on child rearing helps children - The values of interdependence, group cohesion and community loyalty are key features of Aboriginal family and community life, where raising children is considered to be a shared responsibility of all community members. Schools should be no different. Decisions made are child focused and collaboratively made.

What was the most rewarding experience you have had in your career as an educator so far, and why was it so meaningful to you?
It’s very difficult to highlight just one, so I’ll identify a collection of such moments. It is very difficult not to become emotional when you hear from past students. I always marvel at their exploits and am always honoured when they decide to share their stories.

If you could go back in time and relive any moment from your own junior secondary school years, what would it be and why?
Ha! This is a good one. I wasn’t the best-behaved student at school. I thought school (at the time) was a social function for me. If I had my time again, I would say to my adolescent self, wake-up to yourself and stop being so selfish!! Ironically, very similar to some of the conversations I have now!

If you had to choose one book or movie that you think all junior secondary students should read or watch, what would it be and why?
Can I take a liberty and make it a poem? I think all junior secondary students in their identity-forming years should keep a copy of the contemporary version of The Man in the Mirror, composed by Dale Wimbrow. The message of the poem is powerful and a stark reminder that we will only be at ease with ourselves, if we can look in the mirror each day and accept what we see.