Associate Professor Sue Westraad
Associate Professor of Education; Head of School of EducationContact Sue Westraad
Sue started her career as a School Counsellor and Senior English Teacher in South Africa. Following this she moved into roles where she was able to contribute towards leveling the education landscape in post-apartheid South Africa. This included a role as Director of a not-for-profit organisation affiliated to St Andrews College and the Diocesan Schools for Girls which provided a pathway for young people from historically disadvantaged communities to enter and succeed in these prestigious schools. In her role as Education Program Director with the General Motors South Africa Foundation she developed and piloted key education projects that addressed areas such as literacy, teacher development, curriculum design and bridging young people into higher education. In this role she researched, piloted and facilitated school leadership programs which supported school leaders transform the quality of teaching and learning in their schools. Her PhD thesis focused on a school evaluation and development model that contributed to the way in which the Department of Education undertook work in this area with schools. She has also been a member of national business studies curriculum writing teams, standards generating bodies and written Year 10 to 12 Business Studies textbooks. Much of her work has involved implementing education policy at a grassroots level and using these experiences to inform future policy development and implementation. The American Chamber of Commerce awarded one of her programs both the Highest Education Award and the overall Star of Star award for the best program.
Sue has also worked in education programs in Cambodia. She is passionate about schools being places where everyone flourishes, where learning is engaging and meaningful and where each person can achieve to the best of their potential.
Qualifications
Ph.D. (Education) (Rhodes University)
Dissertation Title An investigation of the key mechanisms that promote whole school development in a secondary school pilot project
2007
Masters in Higher Education (Stellenbosch University) 2002
Grad Cert (Executive Coaching) (ACAP) 2021
Bachelor of Arts (Rhodes University) 1988
Higher Diploma in Secondary Education (Rhodes University) 1989
Cert IV TAE (Plenty Training) 2019
Research Interests
- Educational and academic leadership
- Initial teacher education
- Student wellbeing
- Online teaching and learning.
- School transformation and development in contexts where schools have limited access to resources and support.
Field of Research
Specialist Studies in EducationBooks
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2011
- Westraad, S (2011). Changing schools in challenging contexts: the documentation of a whole school development journey. GM South Africa Foundation.
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2007
- Westraad, S; du Plooy, P (2007). Business Studies: Getting Ready for Business. Grade 12. Teacher's Guide. Juta Gariep.
- Westraad, S; du Plooy, P (2007). Business Studies: Getting Ready for Business. Grade 12 Textbook. Juta Gariep.
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2004
- Euvrard, G; Westraad, S (2004). Educational Management, module 1: developing effective schools. Department of Education.
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2003
- Westraad, S (2003). Designing outcomes based learning programmes. Knowledge Resources.
Book Chapters
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2024
- Westraad, S; Mathews, J; Munday, C (2024). Creating Shared Spaces: A Collaborative Partnership Model that Prepares Initial Teacher Education Students for Effective Practice In Green, C; Eady, M, Creating, Sustaining, and Enhancing Purposeful School-University Partnerships (pp. ). Springer.
Journal Articles
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2014
- Westraad, S (2014). The Learning Schools Initiative Evaluation and Planning Instruments. Port Elizabeth: GM South Africa Foundation, .
- Westraad, S (2014). The Learning Schools Initiative Overview and Supporting Model Implementation Guidelines. Port Elizabeth: GM South Africa Foundation, .
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2013
- Westraad, S; Kurgan, J; Soper, P (2013). Teaching Reading. DVD-based programme to assist Foundation Phase teachers (Year 1 to Year 3) understand the basics of teaching reading.. Port Elizabeth: GM South Africa Foundation, .
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2012
- Westraad, S (2012). Making school improvement a manageable and sustainable process from school to district level.. Paper for the Basic Education Conference, .
- Westraad, S; Du Plooy, P (2012). Report: Findings on the investigation of a needs analysis of local economic development officials in the Amathole District Municipality. Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, .
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2011
- Westraad, S; Du Plooy, P (2011). Report: Findings on the investigation and evaluation of the training, education and development needs of local economic development officials in the Eastern Cape Local Government. Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, .
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2007
- Westraad, S (2007). An investigation of the key mechanisms that initiate, support and sustain development and change in South African schools. Paper for the EMASA (Education & Management Association of Southern Africa) Conference, .
Internal and External Grants
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2024
- AC Conference Funding, $2000, AC
- Collaborative Research Grant, $5000, AC
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2023
- AC Conference Funding, $2000, AC
- Collaborative Research Grant, $5000, AC
- International Conference Grant, $2000, Alphacrucis University College
Engagement Publications
Books
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2014
- Westraad, S. (2014). The Learning Schools Initiative Overview and Supporting Model Implementation Guidelines. GM South Africa Foundation: Port Elizabeth.
- Westraad, S. (2014). The Learning Schools Initiative Evaluation and Planning Instruments. GM South Africa Foundation: Port Elizabeth.
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2013
- Westraad, S. Kurgan, J, and Soper, P. (2013). Teaching Reading: DVD-based programme to assist Foundation Phase teachers (Year 1 to Year 3) understand the basics of teaching reading. GM South Africa Foundation: Port Elizabeth.
Professional Memberships
General Education and Training/Further Education and Training Business Commerce and Management Standards Generating Body (since None)
Harvest Christian School Parent Committee (since None)
Current Supervision
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Current
- Durham, D, What are the mentoring needs and opportunities of primary school music teachers in Western Australia? (PhD thesis)
- Norman, T, TBA - Leadership / Coaching / Education (Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours))
- Arthur, S, Inquiry into teachers’ preparedness working with students who have neurodiverse needs (MPhil thesis)
- Dinale, J, Christian Rites of Passage Programs in Educational Settings: Identity Formation Among Adolescents (PhD thesis)
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