New Principal at St John’s Lutheran School Jindera
Anne-Marie Bothe has been appointed principal at St John’s Lutheran School in Jindera after serving as interim principal following Brad Moss’ departure last year. She grew up in the Lutheran church, and never questioned her faith, until her mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away almost two years later. This experience stripped away all she was taught to believe but also caused her to rediscover and strengthen her relationship with Jesus as he sits in the messiness of life with us.
In 1993, she started her teaching career at Bethany Lutheran Primary School in Ipswich before marrying her husband Anthony and moving to Immanuel Lutheran College in Maroochydore. Seven years later they moved to Albury to raise their three daughters closer to family.
While her daughters were growing up she dabbled in writing, following in her mother, Grace Simpson’s footsteps, who wrote devotional books, as well as her sister who’s a published novelist. She also gained a Diploma of Counselling, chasing her passion of others’ wellbeing. She returned to full-time teaching and realised God had other plans on how counselling and writing would help her further serve Lutheran Education rather than being the career change she expected!
Principals are important in any school, but Lutheran schools can bring their own challenges. You have to remain true to the theology of grace in sharing God’s love with the school community while also meeting government requirements. Anne-Marie believes it’s an exciting time to be in Lutheran education, with the emphasis on Growing Deep and Free to Flourish dispositions. They bring a lot of understanding to the unique Lutheran approach to contemporary learning. Lutheran schools need to remain relevant in the ever-changing world while being clear about their difference to other schools, which Anne-Marie sees as the way they implement God’s grace.
St John’s Primary in Jindera and St Paul’s Primary in Henty have just created new Values based on Free to Flourish that clearly state the foundation of their Christian and contemporary approach. Lutheran schools are at the forefront in God’s mission with the relationships formed within the school communities. Meaningful connections are built through having shared experiences and the ability to tell our stories. Both schools are loving creating new innovative ways to serve others and genuinely share God’s love in our schools and beyond.
Being a principal is so much more than a job, it means that Anne-Marie can share God’s love to make a difference in people’s lives and the world around all of us. She gets to walk alongside people while empowering them to use their God given gifts to serve others. She receives the most joy from the relationships she’s built with members of the school community, and watching both the staff and students learn and grow.
Isaiah 40:31 has held a special place in both her personal and professional life. It served as her confirmation text and it has continued to serve as a source of encouragement from others throughout her career and she often shares it with others to do the same.
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Anne-Marie Bothe’s installation will be held on Friday 27th June at 930am.
