Australian Capital Territory Branch

ACT Branch President - Sandra Darley

Tony Bracken Dr Stacey Griffiths Nicole Jaggers
Maria O'Donnell Melissa Plantern Tracey Taylor

Sandra Darley

ACEL ACT Branch President

Sandra Darley is Principal of St Francis Xavier College. She was previously Head of Campus and acted as Principal at both St Mary MacKillop College, and St Clare’s College, Canberra. In 2016, Sandra was seconded to Catholic Education in the role of Senior Officer Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy where she led the design and implementation of Curriculum and Pedagogy strategy for secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. In 2023,Sandra was made a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL). Sandra brings to ACEL strategic leadership experience at a system level and in schools. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership , and at the invitation of the Australian Catholic University co taught in the online Masters of Education programme in 2017/18. She is deeply committed to teacher professional learning and preservice teacher education and in conjunction with ACU co designed and has facilitated the delivery of a school based Masters in Teaching programme.

Sandra is committed to securing the delivery of excellence in educational outcomes for all students to enrich the College she leads as a Professional Learning community for students, staff and families and the wider community it serves. Her membership of ACEL has enriched the research and evidence based practice and entrepreneurial approaches which inform her leadership. She views membership of the Executive Branch of ACEL as an opportunity to engage in and promote cross sectoral collaboration with other leaders and the research, work and profile of ACEL locally and nationally.

Tony Bracken

Branch Executive Member

Dr Tony Bracken (FACEL) NSW is the Deputy Director, Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn, with prior senior system level experience in school performance and improvement in Broken Bay and Parramatta Diocese. With an interest in improvement science, and how schools “learn to improve”. Tony joined Canberra Goulburn in 2021 as the system commenced the system teaching and learning strategy known as Catalyst- following extensive research- that is grounded in the science of learning and the science of reading. This has afforded Tony the privileged opportunity to be a key supporter of this major strategic direction, and part of a system wide strategy across 56 schools, spanning two jurisdictions (ACT, NSW) where all schools are aligned to a common vision and an evidence-based strategy. Tony has contributed over the last six years to the ACEL NSW Executive in the Professional Learning working group, and since 2021 has also been a member of the ACEL ACT Executive. Tony looks forward to continuing to contribute to the new ACEL ACT Executive in 2024.

Nicole Jaggers

Branch Executive Member

Nicole Jaggers is a highly experienced educator, having taught for over 30 years in independent, government and Catholic systems. She is currently Associate Principal at Gold Creek School, a government, non selective P-10 multi programme IB school in Canberra. She holds a Master of Educational Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in International Baccalaureate. Nicole has been an active IB Educator (IBEN) for the past 10 years working closely with IB schools across the Asia Pacific region to lead workshops and consult with school to improve their understanding of inquiry based learning. Nicole is a Director of IB Schools Australasia, where she works to promote collaboration between IB schools and educators. In 2016 Nicole was awarded an Australian Council of Educational Leaders Fellowship Award (FACEL) for her work locally and internationally in developing and supporting educators and schools. She has previously held the role of ACEL ACT Branch Secretary from 2014-2020 and is honoured to return to the ACT Executive in her new term commencing October 2023 to continue the important cross-sectoral work and vision of the ACEL ACT Branch and its members.

Maria O'Donnell

Branch Executive Member

Maria O’Donnell is an experienced educator and school leader with expertise in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation across schools in the ACT and NSW. She has a passion for the developing teacher capabilities and leadership from early career mentoring through to executive leadership, together with interest in data informed school improvement and the development of educational leaders at all levels. Maria has held a range of leadership positions in curriculum and pastoral care, including as Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Head of Campus.

As a Certification Assessor, Maria works to encourage colleagues to achieve recognition for their highly accomplished or lead teaching practice. As a member of the TQI Board she has been able to bring her expertise as a teacher and school leader to contribute to the development of the teaching profession.

A committed educator, Maria believes that a good education allows the individual to create their own pathways for successful accomplishment, and in doing so build the capacity of all Australians in achieving an equitable and prosperous country.

Melissa Planten

Branch Executive Member

Melissa Planten is currently Principal of UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra in the Australian Capital Territory. Melissa has a breadth of national and ACT system experience – including as leader in three ACT senior secondary colleges and in the ACT Education Directorate as Manager Learning and Teaching.

Melissa has held a number of leadership and management roles including Deputy Executive Director, Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA), the ACT Public Colleges Professional Learning committee, the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (ACTBSSS) Curriculum Advisory Committee and is on education advisory committees for the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD) and the National Library of Australia (NLA). Melissa has also worked on Territory and Commonwealth initiatives including the school/university partnership model with the University of Canberra, Civics and Citizenship Education and co-written the ACT BSSS Global Studies course. Melissa’s focus is in leading improvement, innovation and change with a key interest in curriculum design. 

Tracey Taylor

Branch Executive Member

Tracey Taylor (BA, Dip Ed Prim, MedLead) has over 25 years experience in education, commencing as primary teacher and moving into school leadership. She was CEO of Steiner Education Australia representing members at state, territory, national and international levels. Tracey was Principal of Michael Park School in Auckland, taught at the International School of Florence in Italy, then returned to Australia as Principal at Samford Valley Steiner School, Brisbane. Tracey has been a Board Director for AISNSW, Board Director of two independent schools and is passionate about excellence in governance, educational leadership and schools working in holistic ways to support student wellbeing and learning outcomes. Tracey is currently Director, Education Policy with national peak body, Independent Schools Australia representing the sector on a range of policy issues affecting schooling.

Dr Stacey Griffiths

Branch Executive Member

Stacey is a Wiradjuri woman who has spent her career teaching on Ngunnawal land in the ACT Public school system. She started her career as a teacher and school leader in schools in the Tuggeranong Network and has more recently moved to Telopea Park School where she is the Executive Teacher (SLC) of Differentiation. Her experiences have focused on building teacher capacity and working with students with challenging and complex needs. She completed a Master of Education with a focus on educational research and inclusion in 2010 and has completed her Doctor of Philosophy in 2021.