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Dr Chris Sarra hails from Bundaberg in Queensland. The youngest of 10 children, Chris experienced first-hand many of the issues faced by Indigenous students throughout their schooling.

Entering university Chris found encouragement and inspiration from various lecturers and mentors who encouraged him to go beyond the expectations the system usually held for young Indigenous students.

He completed a Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education. In recent years Chris completed a PhD in Psychology with Murdoch University. In the late 1990’s Chris took on the challenges of Indigenous education as the Principal of Cherbourg State School in South East Queensland. Through strong leadership and clear vision he facilitated many changes at the school which saw increasing enthusiasm for student learning through dramatically improved school attendance and increased community involvement in education.

Under Chris’ leadership the school became nationally acclaimed for its pursuit of the Strong and Smart philosophy. Chris has been the recipient of many awards and much recognition as his ideas, enthusiasm and vision have taken hold nationally and internationally. Chris is now the Executive Director of the Stronger Smarter Institute which is pursuing improved educational outcomes for Indigenous children through engagement with principals, teachers, community leaders and Government.

The Institute’s work is based on the Strong and Smart philosophy which espouses a strong and positive sense of what it means to be Aboriginal in today’s Australian society and that Indigenous students can achieve outcomes comparable to other students.

Chris believes that the power teachers have to inspire their students should never be underestimated. These are messages that Chris Sarra has drawn from his own life - as an Indigenous child, student, teacher, parent, principal and leader

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External links

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+Dr Chris Sarra hails from Bundaberg in Queensland. The youngest of 10 children, Chris experienced first-hand many of the issues faced by Indigenous students throughout their schooling.
-'''Chris Sarra''' is Director of the [[Government of Queensland|Queensland Government's]] Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership.<ref>[http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/About_the_department/publications/newsletters/Sectorwide/2005_Editions/November_2005/Indigenous_Leadership_Institute_kicks_goals/?printView=true Queensland Government Media Release "Indigenous Leadership Institute kicks goals"]{{dead link|date=January 2010}}</ref> He was previously Principal of the [[Cherbourg State School]], a [[primary school]] in the town of [[Cherbourg, Queensland]]. When Sarra first arrived, in August, 1998, the school was well below the state average on most indices. Slowly, Sarra's Strong and Smart vision lifted community expectations and transformed the school into a school with below average rates of truancy, growth in student numbers and low levels of vandalism. Chris Sarra's transformation of the school was recognised when he received the award of 2004 [[Queensland Day#Queenslander of the Year|Queenslander of the Year]].  The work at Cherbourg State School is the subject of a documentary entitled 'Strong and Smart' produced the [[Australian Story]] series on ABC TV.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2004/s1212538.htm Good Morning Mr Sarra on ABC TV Australian Story broadcast on 4 Oct 2004]</ref>
+Entering university Chris found encouragement and inspiration from various lecturers and mentors who encouraged him to go beyond the expectations the system usually held for young Indigenous students.
-Changes achieved<ref>[http://www.alumni.qut.edu.au/awards/alumniawards/2004summary.jsp 2004 QUT Chris Sarra: Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Education Award Winner]</ref>:
-* 94% reduction in absenteeism
-* significant improvements in literacy and numeracy
+He completed a Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education. In recent years Chris completed a PhD in Psychology with Murdoch University.
-==Abuse Claims==
+In the late 1990’s Chris took on the challenges of Indigenous education as the Principal of Cherbourg State School in South East Queensland.
-It was also revealed in the ABC TV Australian Story broadcast that Education Queensland investigated several complaints against Chris Sarra and upheld four complaints made by students were he was "found to have grabbed, held and shouted" at boys under his care.<ref name=autogenerated2004>[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2004/s1212753.htm Good Morning Mr Sarra on ABC TV Australian Story broadcast on 4 Oct 2004]</ref>
+Through strong leadership and clear vision he facilitated many changes at the school which saw increasing enthusiasm for student learning through dramatically improved school attendance and increased community involvement in education.
+Under Chris’ leadership the school became nationally acclaimed for its pursuit of the Strong and Smart philosophy.
+Chris has been the recipient of many awards and much recognition as his ideas, enthusiasm and vision have taken hold nationally and internationally.
+Chris is now the Executive Director of the Stronger Smarter Institute which is pursuing improved educational outcomes for Indigenous children through engagement with principals, teachers, community leaders and Government.
+The Institute’s work is based on the Strong and Smart philosophy which espouses a strong and positive sense of what it means to be Aboriginal in today’s Australian society and that Indigenous students can achieve outcomes comparable to other students.
+Chris believes that the power teachers have to inspire their students should never be underestimated. These are messages that Chris Sarra has drawn from his own life - as an Indigenous child, student, teacher, parent, principal and leader
-Ken Smith of Education Queensland stated: "Chris has recognised that in those instances he may have overstepped the mark, and has given a commitment that he won't do that in future." <ref name=autogenerated2004/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia)|date=July 17, 2004|title=Principal given a warning|first=Elizabeth |last=Allen|page=10|quote=Queenslander of the Year Chris Sarra has been given a rap over the knuckles by Education Queensland, but no penalty has been imposed. Mr Sarra, the principal of Cherbourg State School in the Burnett, has been told to be careful in the way he disciplines students. An Education Queensland spokesman said yesterday an investigation into seven complaints against the Cherbourg State School's principal had been completed. Three of the allegations had been dismissed.}}</ref>
 ==Notes==
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 ==External links==
+* [http://www.strongersmarter.qut.edu.au ''Stronger Smarter Institute'' ]
 * [http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2004/s1212753.htm ''Australian Story'' report on Chris Sarra ]
 * [http://www.alumni.qut.edu.au/awards/alumniawards/2004summary.jsp 2004 QUT Chris Sarra: Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Education Award Winner]