Principal | Calvary Christian College
Principal of Calvary Christian College, Steve Downes, says his choice of career was inspired by the people who taught him.
“By my late high school years, I knew I wanted to be a PE teacher,” he says. “I studied a Bachelor of Education Human Movement at The University of South Australia and specialised in Outdoor Pursuits and Science.”
After graduating, Steve taught for the Northern Territory and Queensland Education Departments for three years.
“I grew up on an Indigenous community in the Northern Territory,” says Steve, who has three sons with wife Jackie — Riley, Michael and Levi.
“Eventually we moved to Mackay taking up the role of Head of Health and Physical Education at Mackay Christian College for 14 years before I accepted the role of Principal of Calvary in Townsville seven years ago.”
Popular with staff, students and parents alike because of his friendly, down-to-earth attitude that values people above all else, Steve is a great believer in teamwork.
“Our most valuable resource at Calvary is the people on our team,” Steve says.
“You don’t inspire your team by showing them how good you are – you inspire your team by showing them how good they are! I’m passionate about the people at Calvary. As educators, we’re actually in the people business. People are the most precious thing on the planet and that is what we focus on.”
“You don’t inspire your team by showing them how good you are – you inspire your team by showing them how good they are!”
STEVE DOWNES
Steve is also dedicated to the work Calvary is doing on ‘Boys in Education’.
“Research indicates boys are 75 per cent more likely than girls to fail school,” he says. “At Calvary Christian College we’re on a journey to better understand the differences between boys’ and girls’ development, the way boys communicate and what our boys need so we can turn these statistics around.
“Our mission is to make a profound difference in the lives of all our students.”
Steve sits on the Board of Directors of Associated Christian Schools Queensland and is also a Director of Gulf Christian College Normanton Queensland.
“Being an educator gives you the privilege of being a part of many people’s lives,” Steve says.
“At Calvary we believe we have a God-given opportunity to educate and influence our next generation.”
Calvary Christian College
569 Bayswater Road, Mount Louisa
4722 9201
www.calvary.qld.edu.au
www.facebook.com/calvarychristiancollegeTSV
