Inner City North State College principal revealed

Education Minister and Member for McConnel Grace Grace has announced the foundation principal at Brisbane’s Inner City North State Secondary College.

Ms Grace said Sharon Barker has been chosen for the significant role and will start work on September 3.

“Ms Barker has been in the teaching profession for nearly 30 years,” Ms Grace said.

“She brings a wealth of education experience, having served as principal of Highfields State Secondary College in Toowoomba for the last four years.

“Ms Barker previously held principal, acting principal and deputy positions at Tara Shire State College and Stanthorpe and Harristown State High Schools.

“I congratulate Ms Barker on her new role and I have every confidence that she will do a great job.

“One of Ms Barker’s first tasks will be to work with the future school community to develop the catchment and enrolment policy of the school.”

Inner City North State Secondary College in Fortitude Valley is the first state high school to be built in Brisbane’s inner city in more than 50 years, and the first vertical secondary school to be built in Queensland.

The successful tenderer to build the new school is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Ms Grace said the school will be a masterpiece once complete in 2020.

“Not only will Inner City North State Secondary College look impressive, it will be a future-focused school, supported by excellence in teaching through a partnership with QUT,” Ms Grace said.

Ms Barker said she was thrilled to get the call up for the new position.

“It is an absolute privilege to have been selected as principal of this new school,” Ms Barker said.

“I am looking forward to working closely with staff and the community to sculpt the school into a place of positive culture and strong values where every student is given the opportunity to succeed.”

Ms Grace said the Palaszczuk Government is investing more than $800 million in the Building Future Schools Fund to support growing communities across the state.

“We are delivering a state-wide infrastructure investment program valued at more than $923 million in 2018-19,” Ms Grace said.

Design concepts of the school are available here: http://advancingeducation.qld.gov.au/building-future-schools/Pages/default.aspx

To download a photo of Minister Grace and Ms Barker, click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oinlu849mbd8y35/AABS4a6aH-wiAzxzLdlELb3Qa?dl=0

Media contact: Emma Clarey - 0439 578 472