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Sarra was appointed to the newly independent [[Australian Rugby League Commission]] (ARLC) in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=www.nrl.com|date=10 February 2012|title=ARL Commission officially formed|author=NRL.com|url=http://www.nrl.com/arl-commission-officially-formed/tabid/10871/newsid/65810/default.aspx|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-commission-to-finally-become-reality-after-agreement-reached/story-fn7sfxe7-1226090309319 NRL commission to finally become reality after agreement reached]</ref>
Sarra was appointed to the newly independent [[Australian Rugby League Commission]] (ARLC) in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=www.nrl.com|date=10 February 2012|title=ARL Commission officially formed|author=NRL.com|url=http://www.nrl.com/arl-commission-officially-formed/tabid/10871/newsid/65810/default.aspx|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-commission-to-finally-become-reality-after-agreement-reached/story-fn7sfxe7-1226090309319 NRL commission to finally become reality after agreement reached]</ref>


In February 2013, Sarra was accused by former Indigenous player Larry Corowa of playing a role in the sacking of [[Percy Knight]], the Chairperson of the ARL Indigenous Council.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=www.nrl.com|date=16 August 2012|title=ARLC announce new Indigenous Council|author=NRL.com|url=http://www.nrl.com/arlc-announce-new-indigenous-council/tabid/10976/newsid/69318/default.aspx|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref><ref>name="au.sports.yahoo.com">{{cite news| publisher=Yahoo!7|date=6 February 2013|title=Racism 'rampant' within NRL administration|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/news/article/-/16074890/racism-rampant-within-nrl-administration/|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref> In response to Knight's and Corowa's attacks in the media,<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au">{{cite news|last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |last2=Badel |first2=Peter|title=Racism row threatens to mar NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars match|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/racism-row-threatens-to-mar-nrl-all-stars-v-indigenous-all-stars-match/story-e6frexnr-1226571140875?nk=6db4adc6be72a56e36aea84dd3d1112a|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia |date=6 February 2013|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref> Sarra offered to meet with Knight to address allegations the Aboriginal body lacked a voice in rugby league. Sarra said, "We won't solve anything with a public slanging match.<ref>{{cite news |author =Badel, P. , Webster, A. |newspaper=The Adelaide Advertiser| date=6 February 2013|title= League powerbrokers in the firing line over the sacking of Indigenous Council chairman Percy Knight. |url= http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/league-powerbrokers-in-the-firing-line-over-the-sacking-of-indigenous-council-chairman-percy-knight/story-e6frea6u-1226571154955}}</ref> Let's sit down and have a respectful conversation about the issues concerned and what the solutions might be.' <ref>{{cite web |author =Badel, P. , Webster, A. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=6 February 2013 |title= Sarra says slanging match futile in solving indigenous complaint |url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sarra-says-slanging-match-futile-in-solving-indigenous-complaint/story-e6frfgbo-1226571185095) }}</ref>
In February 2013, Sarra was accused by former Indigenous player Larry Corowa of playing a role in the sacking of [[Percy Knight]], the Chairperson of the ARL Indigenous Council.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=www.nrl.com|date=16 August 2012|title=ARLC announce new Indigenous Council|author=NRL.com|url=http://www.nrl.com/arlc-announce-new-indigenous-council/tabid/10976/newsid/69318/default.aspx|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref><ref>name="au.sports.yahoo.com">{{cite news| publisher=Yahoo!7|date=6 February 2013|title=Racism 'rampant' within NRL administration|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/news/article/-/16074890/racism-rampant-within-nrl-administration/|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref> In response to Knight's and Corowa's attacks in the media,<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au">{{cite news|last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |last2=Badel |first2=Peter|title=Racism row threatens to mar NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars match|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/racism-row-threatens-to-mar-nrl-all-stars-v-indigenous-all-stars-match/story-e6frexnr-1226571140875?nk=6db4adc6be72a56e36aea84dd3d1112a|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia |date=6 February 2013|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref> Sarra offered to meet with Knight to address allegations the Aboriginal body lacked a voice in rugby league. Sarra said, "We won't solve anything with a public slanging match.<ref>{{cite news |author =Badel, P. , Webster, A. |newspaper=The Adelaide Advertiser| date=6 February 2013|title= League powerbrokers in the firing line over the sacking of Indigenous Council chairman Percy Knight. |url= http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/league-powerbrokers-in-the-firing-line-over-the-sacking-of-indigenous-council-chairman-percy-knight/story-e6frea6u-1226571154955}}</ref> Let's sit down and have a respectful conversation about the issues concerned and what the solutions might be.' <ref>{{cite web |author =Badel, P. , Webster, A. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=6 February 2013 |title= Sarra says slanging match futile in solving indigenous complaint |url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sarra-says-slanging-match-futile-in-solving-indigenous-complaint/story-e6frfgbo-1226571185095) }}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==

Revision as of 18:05, 16 August 2015

Chris Sarra is an Aboriginal Australian educationalist, from Bundaberg, Queensland and the youngest of ten children.[1] [self-published source?]

In the late 1990s, Sarra was the Principal of Cherbourg State School in south east Queensland.

From 2008 to 2013 he lead the Stronger Smarter Institute within QUT.[2] The Stronger Smarter Institute now runs independently of QUT.

In 2008, Sarra blamed poor outcomes for Aboriginal students on "white trash" school teachers.[3][4] He said:

If I'm an incompetent teacher filling the school day with photocopied worksheets, videos and Nintendo, it doesn't matter. Aborigines will get the blame. In its crudest form, remote communities are the place to tuck our white trash away.[5]

His PhD thesis Strong and smart – towards a pedagogy for emancipation : education for first peoples was developed into a book and published in 2011.[6] His autobiography was published in 2012[7]

Cherbourg State School

In the late 1990s, Chris Sarra became the first Aboriginal principal of Cherbourg State School in South-East Queensland. Under Sarra's leadership the school became nationally acclaimed for its pursuit of the ‘Strong and Smart' philosophy, which led to dramatic improvements in educational outcomes.[8] Through strong leadership and clear vision he facilitated many changes at the school which saw increasing enthusiasm for student learning, dramatically improved school attendance and increased community involvement in education.[9][10]

An Education Queensland Review of Cherbourg in 2002 showed considerable improvements in attendance (50% in 1997 to 95% in 2002), as well as improvements in literacy in numeracy.[11] Sarra reversed high absenteeism and low academic achievement in a short period using a range of leadership approaches. He introduced a school uniform, school motto ('strong and smart') and school song. Students were assigned to keep different areas of the school tidy and litter free, and students monitored their own absences in class and had to explain those absences to the school assembly each week. The school made an Indigenous studies program integral to the curriculum in all years. Steps also included engaging with the community to help build a vision for the school, and engaging local Indigenous people to work at the school.[12] Classes and students with the lowest number of absences were rewarded, with encouragements such as free ice blocks from the tuckshop, or trips to McDonald's,[13] or occasionally trips to Melbourne.[14]

Sarra's own report into his time at Cherbourg showed improvements were found in staff, student and community feelings of satisfaction with the school as well as a considerable decrease in the number of students identified as requiring additional support in reading and writing (decreased by 40% over the period 1997 to 2002, p. 8 of report). Performance in Literacy and Numeracy overall showed slight improvements (p. 9 and 10). Enrolments in the school increased from 144 in 1998 to 265 in 2002 as parents became more satisfied with the educational standards at the school (p. 13 and p. 15). In reflecting on the positive changes in the school, Sarra said,

"the most important things I did was believe in the people already at Cherbourg, as well as the new teaching team that was established, and be prepared to value and act upon what they had to say." (p.30).[15]

In 2008, Tom Calma, the then Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and National Race Discrimination Commissioner, said in a speech delivered to the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals in Melbourne,

"the Cherbourg experience shows that a strengths-based approach, rather than a punitive-based approach, can have an enormous beneficial impact. If you ask me about what it means to be inspiring and inspired - the Cherbourg model stands out. And it stands out because it combines Aboriginality with success. The success does not require transplantation to another cultural environment."[16]

In 2004 Education Queensland investigated several complaints against Sarra and upheld four complaints made by students where he was "found to have grabbed, held and shouted" at boys under his care.[13] Sarra explained that he chose to confront bad behaviour rather than suspending children where they would miss school for six weeks."[13] 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."[13][17]

When Sarra left as principal in 2005, the principal who replaced him did not share his vision, and Sarra spent a frustrating seven years on the sidelines, watching the school gradually slide with falling attendance and student results.[8] However, in 2011 he was welcomed back to the school by the new principal who had re-adopted the Stronger Smarter Philosophy and was seeing the school starting to pick up again.[18]

Stronger Smarter Institute

From 2006 to 2013 Sarra led the Stronger Smarter Institute for indigenous education, from 2008 to 2013 as part of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) until his contract was terminated by QUT citing that Sarra had stated he was already planning to leave education.[2]

The approach to education of Indigenous Australian children developed by Sarra and implemented at Cherbourg Primary School is what the Stronger Smarter Institute seeks to promote, and it is being adopted across Australia.[8][19][20] [weasel words]

The Myer Foundation provided support of $400.000 in financial year 2006/07,[21] $460.000 in financial year 2007/08,[22] $400.000 in financial year 2008/09,[23]

In September 2009 then Education Minister Julia Gillard announced $16.4 million of government funding.[24]

In July 2010 the Telstra Foundation provided funding of $1.2 million, bringing the total to $2.4 million received from the Telstra Foundation.[25]

In September 2011 the Gillard Labor government provided a further commitment totalling $30 million through the Focus Schools Next Steps Initiative.[26]

The Myer Foundation provided additional support of $400.000 in financial year 2010/11.[27] No support was provided in financial year 2011/12.[28] Support of $50,000 was provided in financial year 2012/13.[29] No support was provided in financial year 2013/14.[30]

A major assessment of the program was led by Allan Luke and published in 2013.[31]

Regarding educational and attendance outcomes the report said:

The analysis of school level attendance from 2008–2011, school-level NAPLAN gain scores from 2008–2011, and cohort-level NAPLAN gain scores from 2009–2010 show no evidence of positive SSLC [Stronger Smarter Learning Communities Project] effects.

…

There is no statistically significant evidence of improved attendance or test score performance.[32]

In the article Chris Sarra stretches the gap on credibility Janet Albrechtsen of The Australian wrote regarding the report:

Sarra told The Weekend Australian he was "reasonably content with the tone and findings of the report". Not so content as to include them on the website. Sarra says the report covered only a short period of time for many schools. That is true. But it is no excuse for not making the report accessible to the public. Transparency surely demands it.

Interestingly, after this newspaper put questions to Sarra as to why there was no link to the report, a link was added with a summary of the findings.

…

It cannot be said enough: what matters is how Sarra's taxpayer-funded programs are lifting student performance so that the government can say they are spending their money wisely given the critical goal of closing the gap of Year 12 completion.[33]

The Stronger Smarter Institute now operates independently. Sarra assumed the role as chairman and appointed former Deloitte's Consulting Partner Lisa Siganto as Chief Executive Officer in 2014.[34][third-party source needed] On 6 November 2014, Indigenous senior executive, Darren Godwell was appointed as the Institute’s new CEO, taking over from Lisa Siganto who moved to the Board.[35] Independent directors have been appointed to the board including Herb Elliott AC MBE (former Deputy chairman, Fortescue Metals Group and Olympic gold medal winner), Paul Bridge (educator based in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia), Gary Lennon (Executive General Manager Finance at National Australia Bank) and Tanya Orman (NITV Channel Manager).[36]

By mid-2015 the Institute reported that it had supported over 2,000 graduates in over 530 schools through the Stronger Smarter Leadership Program, potentially influencing the classrooms of over 38,000 Indigenous students.[37]

In July 2013 $497,000 was donated to the Stronger Smarter Institute by LNG company QGC.[38]

Tenure at the Australian Rugby League Commission

Sarra was appointed to the newly independent Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) in February 2012.[39][40]

In February 2013, Sarra was accused by former Indigenous player Larry Corowa of playing a role in the sacking of Percy Knight, the Chairperson of the ARL Indigenous Council.[41][42] In response to Knight's and Corowa's attacks in the media,[43] Sarra offered to meet with Knight to address allegations the Aboriginal body lacked a voice in rugby league. Sarra said, "We won't solve anything with a public slanging match.[44] Let's sit down and have a respectful conversation about the issues concerned and what the solutions might be.' [45]

Honours

  • 2004 Queenslander of the Year[46]
  • 2010 Queensland's Australian of the Year[46]
  • QUT: 2004 Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Education Award Winner[47]

References

  1. ^ Dr Chris Sarra: Changing the tide of low expectations in Indigenous Education
  2. ^ a b "QUT terminates contract of executive director Chris Sarra". The Australian. 5 March 2013.
  3. ^ Ferrari, Justine (15 November 2008). "'White trash' let Aborigines down". The Australian. Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  4. ^ Bolt, Andrew (15 November 2008). "Trashy argument". news.com.au.
  5. ^ Gosford, Robert (19 November 2008). "White trash – and proud of it!t". news.com.au.
  6. ^ Sarra, Chris; Sarra, Chris (2011), Strong and smart – towards a pedagogy for emancipation : education for first peoples, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-203-09319-1
  7. ^ Sarra, Chris (2012), Good morning Mr Sarra : my life working for a stronger smarter future for our children, University of Queensland Press, ISBN 978-0-7022-3888-8
  8. ^ a b c Ferrari, Justine (21 May 2011). "School as a sacred place". The Australian.
  9. ^ "Australian of the Year National finalist 2010".
  10. ^ "The Lowitja Institute, Dr Chris Sarra - Leadership in Indigenous Education".
  11. ^ www.whatworks.edu.au/3_3_14.htm. "What Works, The Work Program. Cherbourg State School, Queensland, Strong and Smart".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ name=www.whatworks.edu.au/3_3_14.htm
  13. ^ a b c d Good Morning Mr Sarra on ABC TV Australian Story broadcast on 4 Oct 2004
  14. ^ Tovey, Josephine (21 April 2013). "If the cash comes, we must spend it wisely". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. ^ "Review of the Strong and Smart Vision at Cherbourg State School" (PDF). Cherbourg State School. 12 August 2003.
  16. ^ Calma, Tom, (18 August 2008.), Be Inspired': Indigenous Education Reform. Speech delivered to the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, Melbourne {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Allen, Elizabeth (17 July 2004). "Principal given a warning". Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia). p. 10. 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.
  18. ^ Sarra returns to Aboriginal school with faith in learning intact, (21 May 2011), The Australian
  19. ^ Ferrari, Justine (6 February 2010). "Belief builds in Aboriginal schoolkids". The Australian.
  20. ^ Sarra, Chris (14 May 2011), "Not the only way to teach Aboriginal youngsters", The Australian
  21. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2006–07
  22. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2007-08
  23. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2009-10
  24. ^ "16 million to be invested into Indigenous education". National Indigenous Radio Service. 27 September 2009.
  25. ^ Telstra Foundation supports Indigenous leadership programs, (July 2010), Indigenous Education Projects
  26. ^ Director-General's weekly message for staff – 16 September 2011, (16 September 2011), Department of Education, Training and Employment
  27. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2010–11
  28. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2011-12
  29. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2012–13
  30. ^ The Myer Foundation Annual Report 2013–14
  31. ^ Luke, A., Cazden, C., Coopes, R., et al (2013) A Summative Evaluation of the Stronger Smarter Learning Communities Project : Vol 1 and Vol 2. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
  32. ^ Luke, A., Cazden, C., Coopes, R.; et al. "A Summative Evaluation of the Stronger Smarter Learning Communities Project Abridged Version p27" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Albrechtsen, Janet (23 June 2012). "Chris Sarra stretches the gap on credibility". The Australian.
  34. ^ Stronger Smarter Institute, Media Release: Gearing up for Growth by Stronger Smarter on Nov 6, 2014 in News, Stronger Smarter News
  35. ^ Klim, Kerry. "Godwell new CEO of Stronger Smarter Institute, First Nation Telegraph".
  36. ^ Stronger Smarter Institute. "Media Release - Gearing up for Growth".
  37. ^ Stronger Smarter Institute. "Media Release - Stronger Smarter Institute reaches important milestone".
  38. ^ "QGC invests A$1 million in Indigenous education". www.qgc.com.au. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  39. ^ NRL.com (10 February 2012). "ARL Commission officially formed". www.nrl.com. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  40. ^ NRL commission to finally become reality after agreement reached
  41. ^ NRL.com (16 August 2012). "ARLC announce new Indigenous Council". www.nrl.com. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  42. ^ name="au.sports.yahoo.com">"Racism 'rampant' within NRL administration". Yahoo!7. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  43. ^ Webster, Andrew; Badel, Peter (6 February 2013). "Racism row threatens to mar NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars match". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  44. ^ Badel, P. , Webster, A. (6 February 2013). "League powerbrokers in the firing line over the sacking of Indigenous Council chairman Percy Knight". The Adelaide Advertiser.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Badel, P. , Webster, A. (6 February 2013). "Sarra says slanging match futile in solving indigenous complaint". The Courier-Mail.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ a b Indigenous educator Dr Chris Sarra honoured again, (19 Nov 2009), The Courier Mail, Brisbane
  47. ^ 2004 QUT Chris Sarra: Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Education Award Winner

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