A teacher for Jesus

Honoured by class for her ministry in schools

Heidi Mazz has wanted to be a “teacher for Jesus” for as long as she can remember, so studying at Avondale “had always been part of that plan.”

She graduated in 2003 with a degree—a Bachelor of Education (Primary) Honours—and much more. Heidi remembers: making a large number of connections, “many I would not have made otherwise;” having a sense, heightened by the beauty and history of the Lake Macquarie campus, of being part of something bigger, and; serving others, including as a volunteer English and Bible teacher in Japan for two-and-a-half years.

Her career began as a classroom teacher at Brisbane Adventist College in 2004. She would become deputy principal in 2011, developing innovative practice and building her team. improving staff conditions and performance. Leadership roles for Adventist Education in South Queensland and in Northern Australia followed, first as project officer in 2015 then associate director in 2020. She would, among other responsibilities, manage support for teachers, induction and mentoring for new teachers, curriculum development and company brand identity and coordinate professional development events.

Supporting Seventh-day Adventist schools in Queensland as they responded to the complexities of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions and developing a growth and support framework for them are professional accomplishments of which Heidi is proud. As is leading the team from Darling Downs Christian School, where student enrolment is on the increase. While three principals separate them, Heidi builds on the legacy of her father, Rob Randall.

“To help others see and become who God created them to be is still absolutely important to me,” says Heidi. “So many young people have no sense of belonging or no concept of how what they do actually matters. All of us—not just teachers—can be the difference in their lives.”

The Class of 2003 honours Heidi Mazz whose practice of faith through teaching and educational leadership has blessed school communities.