Mr Allan Guihot, M.EdLead B.A. Dip.Ed
During the latter part of 2022, the School Council engaged Hutton Consulting Australia to assist in the search for the next Principal of St Columba Anglican School. The search attracted national and international interest, proof that St Columba Anglican School’s reputation continues to shine in the educational landscape. Interviews then took place with a pool of very talented candidates.
The School Council is delighted to announce that St Columba Anglican School Council has selected Mr Allan Guihot as our new Principal. He will lead us into the next phase of development and enhance the many innovations he has championed. Our journey in Deep Learning and the New Metrics accreditation has been driven by Allan in his role of Deputy Principal of St Columba and he will continue to ensure we are leaders in this field.
Allan’s strong faith is central to his life and his profound ability to work alongside staff, students and parents reflects his Christ-like approach. His wife Simone has been a constant source of strength and their children, Hannah and Angus, are graduates who excel in their chosen professions. A solid endorsement of the value of a SCAS education.
Allan has been living in Port Macquarie and working at St Columba Anglican School for the last 20 years, having begun as Coordinator of Middle School in 2003. Prior to coming to St Columba, Allan worked at The Hills Grammar School where he was the Assistant Head of Secondary School. He has been a teacher for 36 years, having studied a Bachelor of Arts with English Linguistics and History majors. He completed a Diploma of Education concurrently with his Bachelor studies. He also has a Masters degree in Educational Leadership.
Allan has taught in K-12 Coeducational schools for 33 of those 36 years as an English teacher, Year Patron, Dean of Senior School, Assistant Head of Senior school, Head of English, Head of Middle School, Head of Secondary School and Deputy Principal.
Allan is a confirmed Anglican whose faith is very much aligned with the Grafton Diocesan values of inclusivity and compassion. He particularly enjoys the dialogical aspects of Anglicanism and believes that Anglican schools should be unapologetically committed to intellectual pursuits, academic rigour, scientific endeavour, artistic expression, sporting trials, the pursuit of truth and more. He is a leader who fosters authentic relationships with those in his sphere of influence, promoting a collaborative approach and a shared understanding of the school’s vision.
Allan is keenly aware of the need to foster a school environment that develops graduates who are articulate, collaborative, well rounded, spiritual beings, capable of coping with a rapidly changing world. He believes that only through the development of capabilities such as the 6Cs, inherent in the Deep Learning Framework, can we hope our students to be adaptive, agile contributors to the world of work and scholarship. Indeed the development of these dispositions is fundamental to our graduates’ prospects outside of the protected confines of a regional school community.
Having served St Columba for 20 years, Allan has a unique understanding of the School’s trajectory and the knowledge of what needs to be done to continue to improve the School’s service to our students and the wider community.
The Anglican Diocese of Grafton welcomes Allan’s appointment and our Bishop, The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, has wholeheartedly endorsed his selection. Allan is well known by all the Chairs and Principals of the five Diocesan schools, and he will strengthen the professional bonds of friendship.
Allan will commence his new role in Term 3, 2023. During Term 1 and 2, we will be celebrating our current Principal, Terry Muldoon, and his monumental contribution to SCAS during the past 16 years as we bid him farewell.
As we forge ahead, the School is well placed to serve our community and to continue our trajectory of excellence, and we thank our Council, staff, students, and parents for their commitment to each other and to the SCAS vision.