From tuckshop to top job

I can barely keep up. It’s not that Bree Hills is a fast talker. She lives life with a certain determination and the capability to carry a big load. Her welcoming smile makes everything she does look easy, leaving you wondering if she can say “no.” Well, she can. Doing so has helped transform a dwindling school to one that’s thriving and blessing its community.

Bree Hills’ journey began at Avondale. She studied primary teaching but finished the degree at the University of Canberra. After graduating, she taught at a public school, met husband Robert then followed him and his Royal Australian Air Force career to Adelaide, where she taught at the Prescott Primary Northern Seventh-day Adventist school.

With plans to start a family, Bree and Robert returned home in 2004. A call to serve as a teaching principal of Canberra Christian School, her alma mater, soon followed. The decision weighed heavily. While committed to following God’s leading, she felt she lacked the necessary skills. Declining the invitation played on her mind.

Taking a detour, Bree joined an online learning company. Her can-do attitude saw her climb the corporate ladder—she managed million-dollar budgets and teams of 30 staff. Bree describes the experience as “a pathway of stepping stones.”

She had her first son during this time. When old enough, Bree enrolled him at the school. But it was an uneasy meeting of childhood memories and grown-up reality—the familiarity of the facilities on the one hand, the lapsed functionality and low student numbers on the other. Epitomising the attitude “you give up the right to complain unless you want to be part of the solution,” Bree started where she could, in the tuckshop. She cooked, cleaned and connected with students and families. 

Within a couple of years, Bree joined the school council.

Another call to be principal came while on maternity leave following the birth of a second son in 2013. Despite new skills in project management and strategic planning, Bree still felt ill-equipped. A quip from Robert—“Can you say no to God twice?”—helped her reassess. With a sense of assurance, she accepted the role. On Boxing Day, she received the school keys and began painting the office.

The first two years were difficult. Bree had only a small number of staff and students and a dilapidated infrastructure to maintain. She also needed to register the Early Learning Centre (ELC) before it could be completed, which required an in-depth understanding of legislation. Through it all, Bree managed to teach students for half the week. She worked weekends and evenings, family alongside her, to build momentum. Finding humour in the hardship she said to herself, If this is as hard as it gets, it’ll be fine.

The school grew from 26 to 40 students within two years. Bree’s concern dissipated as she saw the evidence of God, always showing up and providing the right people at the right time.

Bree re-evaluated the school’s approach to education. She wanted to base learning on a student’s ability, not grades. “We ditched textbooks in my first year. It gave us more flexibility to tailor our teaching to the students and to more quickly find the gaps in their learning. We found students pushed themselves harder.” She has also introduced creative themes and programs like Pit Stop, which takes students out of mainstream study to focus on numeracy and literacy for a term. “Confidence, and feeling like you can achieve, is a huge part of achieving,” says Bree.

Staff members have worked tirelessly to build community. About 60 per cent of the families in the school are Christian, including a large contingent from the Bhutanese community. All families are invited to an opening Sabbath event on campus once a month. Due to the transient nature of the city and minimal family support, the school even introduced a Date Night, where teachers look after students, leaving parents free to enjoy quality time.

In 2020, Bree led the school through the COVID-19 pandemic and finished her studies, graduating with a master’s from Avondale. “Coming back was like coming home.” Bree began a PhD this year. Her thesis will examine teacher wellbeing, particularly large attrition rates among new teachers.

The ELC through to Year 6 school now has 300 students and 38 staff. In recognition of the achievement and what it encompasses, Bree won the 2020 ACT Telstra Public Sector & Academia Award. She is quick to credit her “pit crew,” including her dedicated parents. “It’s a team effort and I’m humbled by the people God has put in place.”