It is with great pleasure that we announce that St John’s Director of Performing Arts, Mr Russell Morgan, has been named as an Educator Hot List 2021 winner.

In its sixth year, the Educator Hot Listers demonstrate expertise in linking theory and practice and have designed and implemented innovations that provide students with high-quality educational experiences during these unprecedented times.

Over the past 12 months, the power of schools to bolster morale hit home for Mr Morgan with the need to keep the arts afloat to keep students’ brains active and keep their minds off the fear they were seeing around them in the world.

Mr Morgan has grown the Performing Arts department and the number of students involved in the arts. He has higher audience attendance for events and a larger number of families willing to assist and support at events. In 2021 St John’s hosted Disney’s High School Musical production with record ticket sales for all four shows. This is a first in the history of St John’s and one that can also be attributed to Russell’s leadership in the role of Director of Performing Arts.

He has worked hard to grow a positive department where students and staff are passionate and dedicated to the Arts and see the benefits in the community. Student results have improved, and the department has grown across both Junior and Secondary campuses of the College.

Mr Morgan has also re-written Drama programs and grown class numbers out of composite classes. Conducting the Chorale and Fella Voce (Boys vocal groups), he is developing a singing culture at the College encouraging the whole school to be proud to sing and perform.

Congratulations to Mr Morgan and the Performing Arts team at St John’s.