2023 Staff Introductions

I am Deputy Principal and Teaching and Learning Leader at Galilee.

I started at Galilee in 2017 as Deputy Principal. I took Maternity Leave in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to look after my two boys; Archie and John. Archie is 4 years old and John is 3 years old. They are both very excited to be going to Kinder this year.

In 2023 at Galilee we have a big focus on Learning and Teaching of Mathematics and STEM. Our teachers will be working with a range of experts in these areas to improve their practice, with a vision to improve student learning outcomes. I am looking forward to working with students, teachers and leaders at Galilee in all areas of Teaching and Learning this year, and seeing the incredible things our students do.

I have been teaching for 17 years and I have held a range of leadership positions in the three schools I have worked in, including Mathematics Leader, Learning and Teaching Leader, Religious Education Leader and Deputy Principal. I have taught all year levels with most of my time in Year 1, Year 5 and Year 6.

I love to swim and try to get to the pool as often as I can. I also love the footy, especially if Geelong are playing. Every second year my family returns to Scotland, where my husband is from, for a Scottish family Christmas. We look forward to heading back to Scotland at the end of this year.

Hi everyone!

I’m Carmen and I’ve been at Galilee since 2012. In this time I have taught Performing Arts - where I produced and ran the Lion King Jr for the whole school, Years 1, 2 and 3 classroom and replaced teachers in Years 4 and 5. I began and still coordinate the Galilee Extra Curricular Music Program, been OH&S Representative and many other roles!

In 2016 I took a year off and traveled to the UK, Europe and parts of Africa with my then partner and now husband, Kingsley. We got married in 2019 and in September 2021 we welcomed our gorgeous daughter Matilda into the world. In August 2021, I took Maternity Leave until March 2022 to look after Matilda, who is now 17.5 months old. I then came back part time from March 2022.

I will be back full time in 2023 in the following roles: Community Partnerships and Parent Liaison Leader, Religious Education Teaching and Learning Leader and Number Intervention at Galilee and Compliance and Planning.

I am looking forward to working in the many different roles I have and engaging with our community with our events and morning teas.

I love singing and dancing and am a classically trained opera singer. I am also completing my Masters of Educational Leadership this year at ACU.

Hello everyone,

I am the Religious Education - Sacrament and Liturgy Leader and one of the two Yr. 3 teachers, teaching with Rebecca Mc Cormack. This will be my 7th year teaching at Galilee where I have taught Yr. 3 for two years. Yr. 5 for two years and Yr. 4 for two years and now I’m looking forward to going back to Yr. 3!

I have two beautiful and amazing adult daughters with the youngest one living in Sydney, so I try to visit her as much as possible! My eldest is married and I have a wonderful Son-in-Law too! I treasure spending time with my loved ones.

I enjoy bike riding to school except on unfavourable days and Fridays, when I visit the Sth Melbourne Market after school. The great outdoors is my happy place where I enjoy bush walking and exploring. I delight in cooking plant based foods and trying new recipes. Most of all I love Jesus and growing daily in my faith and relationship with God!

This year I have a change of name (after getting married last year) and a new role!

I am the Learning Diversity/NCCD Leader this year, and will be working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I have been at Galilee since 2015 and have taught Prep, 1, 2, 4 and even a Term of Art.

My husband, Kyle, is from the UK and is a Project Manager. We have a 14 year old son, Patrick, who attended Galilee and is now in Year 9 and we have a 20 month old daughter, Rosie, who loves running, climbing and books.

Prior to teaching full time, I completed my Masters in Special Education and this year I am really looking forward to working with students, staff and parents.

Greetings all, this will be my first year at Galilee. I will be teaching in the senior school with the Grade Six students in 2023.

This will be my eleventh year of teaching. I have worked for the past eight years at St Andrew’s Primary School in Clayton South. For the two years prior I spent time in the UK working as a teacher in Behaviour Referral Units. I have taught all years from Prep - 6, but most of my time has been spent with senior students.

I am Melbourne born and bred and I am a tragic Essendon supporter. In my spare time I love getting out of Melbourne and exploring the great outdoors with my lovely girlfriend Steph. I fancy myself as a handy chef and can often be found down at the local football on a Saturday afternoon.

I’m really excited about a change of scenery and am looking forward to getting to know the community over the coming years.

Hi! I’m Caleb and I’ll be teaching Prep C this year.

This is my first full time class after recently graduating and spending last year as a relief teacher in Galilee and other schools.

Outside of school I enjoy cooking, traveling and spending time at home with my wife Karissa and our two cats.

Richard Harding

Hi! I’m Richard, I’ll be teaching 6R this year and I’m also the Maths Leader.

I’ve just finished working at Stella Maris Catholic Primary School in Point Cook where I worked for seven years. I’m originally from the UK and I moved over here 12 years ago.

My wife, Chenelle, and I have three boys - Max, Jack and Sam (the youngest, pictured here). We live in South Melbourne where we can often be found at the park or the cafés on Saturday mornings, or the beach in the Summer.

I am the Year 1P teacher for the 2023 school year. This is my 27th year teaching. I began my career in Sydney and for the last 10 years I have been working for the Brisbane Diocese. 

I am new to Melbourne and only arrived 3 weeks ago. My husband and I have three children, Thomas, Clara and Eliza. The eldest two are studying at university and the youngest is now in Year 12 and studying at The Australian Ballet School, the  reason why I have made the move to Melbourne.

I look forward to exploring Melbourne and am open to suggestions on places to visit and wonderful places to eat!

G’day, I am one of the Learning Support Officers here at Galilee. I began placement for my Certificate III in Education Support at the end of term 2 last year. I started working here immediately after the completion of my course.

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and developing in my role and I look forward to continuing to do so as I undertake my diploma this year.

I was a student here from 2006 - 2012, so it’s been a great pleasure to reconnect with the school as well as its wonderful staff and community. I worked primarily with the year ones and preps last year and believe I will be continuing to work in a similar capacity this year.

A little about me, I love basketball, surfing, bouldering and of course Footy (Go Dogs!). I also really enjoy hands-on learning, particularly Lego Club, a Lego based social development program that myself and some of the other LSOs run week to week.

Hello everyone and welcome to Galilee in 2023.

I am in the office with Iris and Cate and together we make a terrific team!

I look forward to seeing you throughout the year and hope that it is a fabulous one for us all. 

Hello, I’m Rebecca. I am teaching Year 3 with Helen this year. I have recently moved to Melbourne from Ireland where I taught for six years.

I joined a Triathlon club when I moved here as I enjoy running, cycling and swimming. I competed in two races which have been great fun and I hope to do more this year!

I also enjoy reading, hiking, spending time with my friends and traveling. I have traveled to Tasmania, South Australia and the East Coast since moving here and I’m looking forward to seeing new places this year.

Hi! I am one of the Year 4 teachers for 2023 and I am new to Galilee.

I am from Ireland, and have been teaching full time since 2017. Since then, I have taught in various Catholic Schools across Ireland, New Zealand and Melbourne. I’ve enjoyed teaching different year groups and going on camp. I’m very excited to start teaching here and being a part of this school's community.

Hi everyone!

This is my 25th year at Galilee & as you can imagine I have seen many changes  in that time. I have been privileged to work with many dedicated and wonderful teachers and seen our students flourish in Secondary schools and beyond.

I have loved my time here and managed to continue studying throughout the years, mainly in Special Education, Literacy & completed the Masters in Education - Student Wellbeing. I have had many varying roles - mainly in Leadership Roles - Deputy Principal - 8yrs, Student Wellbeing & Diversity/NCCD, Literacy & varying classroom roles.

We have a wonderful community at Galilee and our parents have always played a very important role.

I am now in my twilight years of education, so this year I am working here on a Wednesday as a Replacement Teacher, replacing the STEM Leader.

My husband and I have 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren, which I love spending time with and babysitting.

Hi there! My name is Muiread McKeown (it's pronounced like ‘parade’ with an ‘m’!). I am one of the prep teachers.

I am both new to Galilee as well as to Australia. I am from co. Kerry, which is in the beautiful south west of Ireland. I have been working as a teacher in Ireland since 2016 and have worked in a variety of schools and settings.

I enjoy reading, travelling and exploring new places. I also enjoy all the great cafes and restaurants that Melbourne has to offer. I’m happy to get any new recommendations.

Hello to all. My name is Seb Greene and I’m your PE teacher.

I’m a country boy from Bendigo and moved to Melbourne 5 years ago.

I love all kinds of sports and am a competitive person. I play football on the weekends and enjoy walking and playing around with my groodle Luna.

I support North Melbourne in AFL, Liverpool in EPL and clap the rest. 

I’m always up for a chat and a laugh, so if you’ve got a joke come tell me please.

Hello to the Galilee community. I have been Principal at Galilee for 7 years. I have held a similar role at a school in Brighton and in Broome, Western Australia.

My wife Julie, works at MACS and we have three adult children: Baillie 28, Tilly 26 and Caleb 22.

We are a very close family, despite two of our children living in Queensland.

Julie spent time in QLD in 2022 with our children but is back now living and working in Melbourne.

I enjoy keeping fit and cycle regularly.

I love working with the students, staff and parents at Galilee. I’m looking forward to a very successful 2023.

Hello, Miss Holly Evans here! 

This year, I have taken on the roles of Literacy Leader, Literacy intervention teacher and Early Years Leader. 

I have a passion for early years education and have been a Prep teacher at Galilee for 9 years. 

A few years ago I developed a school readiness program called ‘Seeds and Sprouts’  to support students in their transition from kindergarten to school. I am very excited to announce its continuation in 2023. I look forward to getting to know our future 2024 and 2025 students. 

G’day Galilee, I’m Adrian Webster.

You may have had the pleasure of seeing my much better half Iris Webster in the front office with Wendy and Cate. I will be teaching in Year 5 and leading STEM with Dan in my first year at Galilee. 

This is my 12th year teaching but am very happy to be coming back to a Catholic School community. I have spent the past couple of years at Geelong Grammar School and before that, at Xi’an Liangjiatan International School in China. My particular passions are in the International Baccalaureate and STEM learning in primary schools.

Iris and I have a daughter Dorothy (2). If we’re not with her, you’ll most likely find us at AAMI park, watching the Rebels. I’m quite sporty and have previously played basketball, boxing, futsal & soccer but I’ve become quite fond of cycling as of late. 

I’m looking forward to meeting you all and having a chat.

Hello all, 

I am the head of Performing Arts ;) and this year will be my second at Galilee after completing my final teaching rounds here in 2013. I have also taught at Galilee as a relief teacher prior to my Performing Arts role. This will be my tenth year of teaching, both as a Kindergarten and Primary school teacher. An introverted extrovert, I love teaching the Arts to children and I can’t get enough music, dancing and generally fooling around into my life, and theirs.

Prior to teaching, I was a Chef for nearly 15 years working in and around inner city Melbourne, and even worked in Florida, USA on private yachts!

I have also completed post graduate study in the International Baccalaureate and am currently completing my Masters in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

I am originally from the UK, but have been following the Essendon football club for many years now. I really enjoy playing music, cooking, reading autobiographies and crime novels and watching movies.

I have a beautiful almost ten year old son, Huxley, who is my greatest love and joy, and together with our purr babies, Star Wars tabbies, ‘Queen Padmé Amidala’ and R2 ‘Toosie Do’, we live in North Brighton doing the usual family things together.

I’m looking forward to another great year with our magnificent community at Galilee- please come into the studio and say hello!

Hello all, my name is Alex Pensini and I will be one of the Year 4 teachers at Galilee Regional for 2023. 

I recently moved to Victoria from sunny Western Australia halfway through last year and have loved every minute of it. Since moving to Victoria, I have been working as a CRT in several different schools. Before this, I had been teaching for 4 years at a school in Rivervale, Western Australia. 

A bit more about me, I love all things sport! In my spare time I love watching any form of sport, but in particular, watching the mighty Richmond Tigers play. I also love to travel and am always thinking of where to go next. 

I’m very excited to start the school year and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Hey everyone!

I am a Learning Support Officer at Galilee and have been here for the past 21 years. I have worked with all year levels,  but most of my time is spent assisting the junior classes. I find my role rewarding and fulfilling for many reasons, but essentially, for the growth evidenced from the beginning of the year until the conclusion, and the relationships I am able to form with the students.

I am married and have twin adult boys. I love music/dancing and follow the Carlton Footy Team.

I am looking forward to another year at Galilee and the opportunities that this year will present.

Dobryj vechir, dear families!

I’m the coordinator in GOSH (before/ after school care/ holiday programs)..

I have worked in Galilee since 2017, and I am very passionate about what I am doing.

I have a couple of degrees and titles: Masters (Honours)  in Business Administration and Financial management, International master of sport (tennis), Diploma in education and care.

I’m half Jewish and half Ukrainian, I was studying/ living in Germany and for the last 10 years I have lived in Australia.

I have a gorgeous son Nicholas, who is 3 years old.

With my team here it is never boring!

Hi everyone!

I am one of the Learning Support Officers here at Galilee.

I began my placement in 2022, after completing my Certificate III in Education Support during lockdown. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Visual Arts and a career in HR, I was very excited to join the Learning and Diversity Team, following my passion for supporting children with special needs in Education.

Having lived in the area for the past  25 years I feel extremely fortunate to be working with children and families from our local community.

I am a proud mum of 2 teenage boys and  spend most weekends as a team manager for their domestic basketball team and also watching them play footy, rowing and volleyball. In my own time I enjoy catching up with friends, walking, reading, music, hiking and  am guilty of binging on the odd Netflix etc. series.

I'm really looking  forward to getting to know and working with all our lovely new staff, students and school community at large.

Hello All,

I am a Learning Support Officer at Galilee. I have worked in education since 2011 in a range of different roles, both in South Australian and Victorian schools, including mainstream and developmental needs. I started at Galilee in 2020 and have worked with all year levels, most of my time with the upper years.

I have an interest in information technology and how it can support education.  I also enjoy woodwork and have successfully built a floating desk and outdoor table (they are both still holding together).

I am looking forward to the new opportunities that present themselves throughout the year.

Hi everyone, I am thrilled to be back! 

In 2016, after a few years teaching in the vibrant city of Dublin, Ireland, I made the move to Melbourne with my Australian husband, Scott. I have been teaching at Galilee since 2018 and have had the pleasure of working alongside our Year Six students for a few years. Whilst working here, I was also the NCCD Leader and enjoyed working closely with children, teachers and support staff, ensuring all students were provided with learning opportunities to best suit their interests and needs. 

In 2022, I had some time with a group of amazing Year Twos before going on Maternity Leave. My beautiful daughter, Delaney was born in April of last year and Scott and I have enjoyed watching her grow into the adventurous go-getter she is. She is currently trying to walk and is climbing everything, needless to say, my speed, agility and hand eye coordination have definitely improved! Watch out, Year Sixes, I’m coming for you at the End of Year Netball Game!! 

I am returning to school for one day a week, where I will be working alongside our Learning Diversity and NCCD Leader, Brighid. For the reminder of the week you will find me at swimming lessons, baby sensory classes, and walking around Albert Park Lake with friends. 

Hello all, I’m Shane and I am teaching 2S this year. 

A little about myself, I moved to Melbourne in September from Ireland. I taught grade 4 last year in an inner city school in Dublin. Prior to this, I worked as an eLearning designer for an education company. 

I am really interested in sport and keeping active. I play gaelic football for St. Kevin’s GAA club Melbourne and am currently on the lookout for a footy team to play for. Also, I love running and try my best to make the local parkrun in Albert Park as often as I can. 

I’m very excited to start the school year and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Hi everyone, I’m excited to be teaching Yr5 this year and leading STEM with Adrian.

Last year was my first full year at Galilee where I had an amazing time teaching Yr 3. Before that, I taught Performing Art for a term which was a lot of fun too. 

I’ve previously worked in schools in the UK and in Tasmania as an LSO, PE teacher as well as teaching in the classroom. I love teaching and learning and am passionate about making learning fun and engaging. 

I love the outdoors, am sports mad, enjoy socialising with my friends, watching live comedy as well as sampling the culinary delights that Melbourne has to offer. 

I enjoy a good chat and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the children and their families at Galilee and look forward to getting to know a lot more of you too, so please stop and say hello!

Hi Everyone!

I am Deputy Principal at Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School. I have been teaching for nearly 30 years. Before working here, I was at a number of different Catholic schools including Brighton, Caulfield, Collingwood and Beaumaris. 

I recently completed my Masters in Education at Australian Catholic University. I have many interests that always keep me busy and on the go. Big Richmond Tigers Fan and also a Liverpool fan (You’ll never walk alone). 

I’m really looking forward to seeing you all during the year.

Hi, I’m Colleen. I have been at Galilee for 14 years. I taught full time for ten years in Years 3-6.  I then decided to change to part time and now work here as a replacement teacher. This year I will be working with Yr 6R and Yr 3H.

I have discovered wonderful ways of spending my days when not at school including movies, long lunches and extra long weekends every weekend!

Hi All,

I am Mrs Grillo and this is my 17th year at Galilee; prior to this I worked at various schools in the Northern Region. During my time at GRCPS I have fulfilled the roles of Prep Classroom Teacher, Literacy Leader/Literacy Intervention and Reading Recovery Teacher. Since mid 2021, my main position at the school has been Visual Arts Teacher.

Outside of school, I like to cook/bake, read, catch up with friends and go to the footy to watch my beloved Bombers! During the past 10 years I have been lucky enough to annually visit my elderly parents who live in Madeira, Portugal (that’s right - Cristiano Ronaldo’s homeland!). My husband and I have been blessed with a wonderful daughter, who currently works as an Occupational Therapist. 

I look forward to supporting your children throughout the year in their creation of amazing masterpieces!

I’m Iris and I am thrilled to be part of the Galilee school community yet again this year.

In my previous life I worked in banking, ran a fashion label, worked in the office at 2 other Catholic schools in Melbourne, and lived in China working as an English and library assistant.

These days you will find me in the school office 3 days a week working alongside the lovely Wendy and Cate. On the weekends I enjoy spending time at the park/beach/pool with Mr Webster and our delightful toddler Dotti. I love travelling and hope to explore more countries soon as a family of three. Last year we introduced Dotti to my family in the Philippines and this year we will be exploring Indonesia.

Ciao a tutti!

For those whom I haven’t met yet, I am the Italian teacher for Prep to Year 6.

I have been at this school for over 10 years and have been in the classroom,  taught junior P.E. and now Italian.

Before coming to Galilee, I taught in the State system for a long time, in all levels as a classroom teacher, Italian and Reading Recovery teacher.

You could say I have been teaching for a long time.

Some things you may not know about me:
- I enjoy keeping fit and have completed a half marathon. 
- I love going for walks, time with family and friends, the arts, architecture and interiors.
- I have travelled to Europe and yes, I went to many parts of Italy and visited my parents home town, Salerno.
- My interest in psychology, mental health and how the mind works has led me to further my studies over the years in human behaviour and well-being. Along with a friend of mine we started a foundation in Men’s Mental Health.
- I have 2 beautiful adult children, one who lives at home with my husband and I.
- Family is important to me.
- When you come into the school you may smell the aroma of coffee.  That’s me putting on the caffettiera, for a true Italian caffe’. First in best dressed.