Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School Appointment

Following an extensive executive recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that Ms Meg Adem has been appointed as our new Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School. A Bayside local, Meg's time at Brighton Grammar School has seen her build strong relationships with both staff and students over the breadth of her career. We very much look forward to welcoming Meg to the Mentone Girls' Grammar School community at the beginning of Term 1, 2023. Until then, Ms Shannon Boyle will continue to do a marvellous job in the role of Acting Head of Senior School. 

About Meg

For nearly 20 years Meg has developed her career in education to her current position of Deputy Head of Secondary School with Brighton Grammar where she oversees staff management, enrolments, and a range of strategic initiatives including strengthening relationships with other schools. Meg is also responsible for the operations of the Senior School and has been directly involved in the planning for the new Science Centre at Brighton Grammar. Meg has also spent time as the Acting Deputy Headmaster for a period of time, which provided her with a fantastic opportunity to work holistically with students and staff in addition to improving parent engagement.

Earlier as a Head of House, Meg provided leadership for over 168 boys from Year 7 to Year 12.  Meg was directly responsible for the pastoral care and academic coaching of approximately 100 students, and she also managed the tutor team and engaged with the Heads of Year 7 and Year 8 in regard to the boys in the younger age groups.  Concurrently Meg held the position of Head of Psychology, where she held responsibility for the Psychology curriculum, staff and resources.  Meg teaches Year 12 Psychology classes in addition to junior science classes.  Meg was the Chair of the Staff Culture Team, and a team member of the Staff Wellbeing Team and has previously contributed as a team member in relation to Behavioural Management Policy.  Loving the outdoors, a highlight of Meg’s time at Brighton Grammar included hiking in Nepal with Year 10 students in 2019.

Prior to Brighton Grammar, Meg was Head of Psychology and Director of Athletics at Scotch College where she taught for seven years. A highlight of her time at Scotch was leading the athletics tour to Iten in Kenya in 2012, with the school being the first formal school group to train and live in the Town of Champions. Meg was also fortunate to work closely with the science team on the design of the Sir Zelman Cowen Science Centre in her time at the school. In 2011 Meg published the first edition of Get Psyched, a year 10 psychology textbook, with Cambridge University Press and this year in 2022 celebrated the printing of the title’s second edition.

Between 2013 and 2016 Meg has been engaged with VCAA as an Exam Panel Member for VCE Psychology. In both 2014 and 2015 Meg was involved in setting the exam paper for the state, and in 2016 set the sample exam paper for the new study design.  During 2015 Meg worked with Victoria University as a Lead Teacher within the College of Education, teaching psychology pedagogy to third year Bachelor of Education students.

Meg has been involved in APS athletics for nineteen years and was awarded an APS Sports award in 2014 in recognition of her contribution and service to the sport’s program. Growing up on a farm in Tasmania, Meg began running at a young age and continues to love her morning runs before school.

Fostering a love of academics at Fahan School in Sandy Bay (a small girl’s school like Mentone Girls) Meg moved to Melbourne to complete a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a Bachelor of Teaching (Honours) at the University of Melbourne, where she was also a resident student at Trinity College. This led to her first teaching role at Caulfield Grammar, where she was fortunate enough to be part of the coaching team responsible for APS girls’ premiership wins in both athletics and cross country during 2005-2007. Committed to a love of learning, in 2019 Meg completed her Master of Business Psychology from the University of Newcastle, graduating with distinction.

Meg lives locally in Bayside with her husband, Leighton, and 9-year-old son Max. Leighton runs a fly-fishing magazine FlyLife and Max loves footy and Minecraft. In their spare time, Meg and her family can often be found at Jan Juc, enjoying the surf and trails, and as steadfast Saints supporters can often be found at Marvel hoping for that next Premiership season!

A passionate educator, Meg is committed to providing the best care for each and every student; through developing their inherent strengths and talents and providing an environment where they are safe to be themselves. Following her own personal journey in a girls’ school growing up, Meg believes a school such as Mentone Girls is critical for empowering girls and providing them each with a power perspective of the world. Meg’s key priority during her career is to educate and care for the whole child, with wellbeing central to her philosophy. Meg very much looks forward to joining Mentone Girls Grammar in 2023 and building enduring relationships with the students, staff and broader MGGS community.