Dr Cynthia May

Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice,
School of Early Childhood & Inclusive Education
Biography
Cynthia began her career as a secondary English and Mathematics teacher and this led to leadership positions in pastoral and curriculum areas. Her M Ed thesis was Computer Anxiety in Adult Learners.After various career developments including running a training business, teaching adults re-entering education and Information Technology manager, Cynthia was Deputy Principal in four K-12 schools in Australia and the UK.
Cynthia’s final career goal is to ‘teach teachers’ and to achieve this, she completed her PhD, Women Leading Women in Independent Schools, in 2012.
She has been a sessional academic at QUT since 2014, in Child and Adolescent Psychology, Professional Work of Teachers, Culture and Society; Indigenous Perspectives and a University Partner.
Personal details
Positions
- Sessional Academic
Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice,
School of Early Childhood & Inclusive Education
Discipline
Education Systems, Specialist Studies in Education
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Uni of South Australia)
Professional memberships and associations
Teaching
EUB103 Culture Studies: Indigenous Education
EUB003 Managing Student Bahaviours Related to Complex Trauma
EUB112 Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
EUB103 Culture Studies: Indigenous Education
EUB003 Managing Student Behaviours Related to Complex Trauma
EUB112 Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
LCB002 Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
EDB170 Creating Positive Learning Environments
LCB003 Education and Society 1
EDB172 Education and Society 2
CRB003 Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum Studies 1: History & Civics
LCN365_LCP410 Classroom Management
EDN673 Culture Studies: Indigenous Education
EDB171 Culture Studies 1: Indigenous Education
LCB333 Classroom and Behaviour Management
LCN634_16se2 Supporting Students with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Needs
EDB005_166TP4 Teaching and Learning Studies 5: Professional Work of Teachers
2013-4 Pacific Lutheran College Head of House
2011-13 Moira House Girls School UK , Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School
2008-11 St Margaret’s AGS,Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School (Brisbane)
2004-7 Prince Alfred College, Head of Secondary School (Adelaide)
Annesley College: Deputy Principal R-12, Head of Senior School; ICT Manager,
Sacred Heart College: Head of Year 11 (Adelaide)
Lecturer, Panorama College of Technical and Further Education
Owner and principal of a training and consulting business
2018: Lectures, LCB002, Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
2018: Education Union presentation for International Women’s Day
2013: Women Leading Women in Schools, GSA, Bristol
2008: Managing Difficult Staff, Anglican Boys’ School (shared campus collegiality)
2006: Women Leading Women: what does the literature say? (ANZAM, Dec)
2003: Women as Educational Leaders: a new paradigm?
Australian College of Educational Leaders, Sydney, September (published on website)
2003: To Thine Own Self be True: Curriculum and Innovation in the Middle Years
2002: Implementing Change in Schools, IBMYP conference, Adelaide, July
2001: Women Managing Women, University of South Australia
1999-2002: University of South Australia presentations to graduate teachers
Experience
Sessional academic 2014-19
Deputy Principal, 2002-2013
Educational Leadership
- 2017: Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award
- 2015: STARS representative for faculty in QUT Sessional awards, finalist
In other contexts:
- Staff Development Coordinator
- Member of the Education sub-committee of Council
- GSA Senior Staff Association, conference and hosted area meeting
- Member of Council at St Margaret’s AGS; member of Audit and Finance subcommittee, Risk Management subcommittee, Marketing sub-committee and Ethos committee
- Development of a Masters program within St Margaret’s AGS and Prince Alfred College to encourage staff development
- Membership and Councillor on the Council of the Australian College of Educators in South Australia (2000-4)
- Membership of the Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Independent Schools in South Australia (1999-2001)
- Director of whole-of-school curriculum reviews in two schools with outcomes being implemented progressively and successfully. The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) made changes to the Middle Years Programme (MYP) as a response to my review in Adelaide.
- Close liaison with the Director of Studies, Director of Teaching and Learning for the planning and implementation of curriculum across schools, Nursery-Sixth Form.
- Membership of the College Curriculum Committee at Annesley, Board of Studies at Prince Alfred College, Heads of Curriculum at St Margaret’s AGS, Academic Committee, Moira House
- Induction of new staff
- Oversight of the student teacher programme (NQT)
- A teaching commitment (English (IB, SACE), Mathematics, Information Technology
- Oversight of student leadership
Teacher of English, Years 7-12
Teacher of Mathematics, Years 7-10
Teacher of Geography, History and Drama, Years 7-10
Selected publications
QUT ePrints
To find publications by Cynthia, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.