Emma McDonald
Director of Advancement and Engagement Bachelor of Teaching and Learning/Bachelor of Arts, MEdLead
Emma joined Haileybury Rendall School in 2024 as Deputy Head of Junior School before moving into her current role as Director of Advancement and Engagement.
She has extensive experience in the field of educational leadership, having previously held diverse leadership positions at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Darwin, including the role of Deputy Principal.
Emma recently completed her Master of Educational Leadership, with her research focused on the effectiveness of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Explicit Instruction for First Nations learners. This is an area she is deeply committed to advancing at HRS. Emma is passionate about sharing her knowledge of Explicit Instruction as an evidence-based teaching approach that supports strong learning outcomes for all students.
With a long-standing love for the Performing Arts, Emma has also led numerous school productions and musicals and thrives on the creativity and collaboration that are part of this artistic process.
She is equally dedicated to fostering student engagement in STEM and has contributed significantly to the growth of STEM opportunities in the Northern Territory, including as a co-facilitator of the RoboCup Junior Australia robotics competition.
Emma is committed to building a positive, inclusive school culture and believes that every student can learn, grow and succeed.
Her interests are running and spending time with family and friends.
