Sue Isbell

Background

About Sue Isbell

Sue is an experienced Head of Department of over 20 years at Kelvin Grove State College, a Prep to Year 12 Independent Public School located 3 kms from the Brisbane CBD. Her role is diverse and always evolving, with a primary focus on digital pedagogy, professional development and training, and digital tools and systems including the Year 7-12 Bring Your Own Device program. Sue also has responsibility for Year 6-12 Digital Technologies curriculum (including VET qualifications) and the Middle Senior Library. For many years, she also managed the ICT services and infrastructure program at the College. With significant changes to Digital Technologies curriculum in recent years, Sue adopted her Principal’s “raise your gaze” approach. This included actively seeking opportunities for greater industry engagement to ensure students are ready for their chosen careers and a future that will be significantly different from today. This includes partnering with the Queensland branch of the Australian Computer Society (ACS), and participating in Gateway to Industry Programs (GISP) in ICT (including as a member of the industry reference group), Advanced Macturing, Minerals and Energy (QMEA) and Screen and Media. In recent years, a focus has been given to establishing a talent pipeline for students into the ICT industry and ICT roles in other industries. Sue was successful in obtaining College funding for a Tech Ambassador role (of which she is one of two) to support the implementation of the Technology national curriculum from Prep to Year 10. She also successfully applied for College funding to establish a P-12 DigiSpace to increase staff and student access to new and emerging digital technologies, which includes a Pepper and NAO robot purchased using a successful Education Queensland Innovation subsidy. Digital Technology students also have the opportunity to engage with entrepreneurship in start-up environments with mentoring. Sue is currently a member of the ACS national ICT Educators committe and their representativr to the Australian Council of Computer Education (ACCE) and a Qld Society for IT Educators (QSITE) board member.