Our Team.
Behind the daily workings of Novoschool you will find a group of people who are qualified and highly experienced in their fields. But we believe that it takes more than letters next to a name and years spent at the front of a classroom to be an excellent educator. Our team is comprised of individuals who care deeply about making education an accessible, relevant and inspiring process. They bring a wealth of wider experiences and learning because they are profoundly curious and creative people themselves. They've spent their lives exploring, making, experimenting, failing, learning and growing and are passionate about pioneering a way of learning that allows young people to do the same.
*All our teachers hold Teacher Accreditation as required by NESA.
**Please note that this page will be updated as we continue to build Novoschool and it's community of educators and support people.

Founder & Principal
David Chapman
Although born in Grafton many years ago to West Australian parents, David spent significant years living and learning in different countries. Some years later, while volunteering as a rock climbing instructor to underprivileged youth in the Canadian Rockies, he thought that teaching might in fact be a way to contribute to community. This meant returning to Newcastle, and gaining another degree, this time in Secondary Education at the University. Since then, he has taught English (and several others subjects) in Papua New Guinea, Canada, and for the past 25 years, the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region.
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David is the father of five globetrotting children and is married to a Teacher/Librarian with an amazing knowledge of all things books. The house is full of books, travel memories and plans, and quite often good food and friends.
Recent roles in school leadership, educational consulting, and as the founder of an educational tour company, have allowed David to investigate educational innovation around Australia and the world. He is passionate about creating a local, progressive, option for young people in Newcastle - one that is truly student centred.
About the photo:
This portrait of David was taken some years ago on a multi-day train journey from Beijing to Tibet. The goal was Mt Everest (which was achieved), but this moment captures the impact of high altitude while eating breakfast, hiding the inner joy and happiness that honestly is there.

Community & Culture
Brendon Guest
Born in the north of Tasmania to a dairy farming family, Brendon’s early life was characterised by loving and resilient parents who, despite their own lack of education, understood the importance of securing educational opportunities for their three sons. While still very young, Brendon's family moved to the Yarra Valley in Victoria where the family farming enterprise diversified into beef cattle.
Brendon attended a private school in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne where, inspired by excellent teachers who genuinely cared, he made the decision to take up a career in teaching. After moving to Newcastle to complete his Bachelor of Education (1996), Brendon’s early teaching positions included Auckland, New Zealand and the Western Suburbs of Melbourne where he was first asked to take a leadership position in a small but rapidly growing school.
In 2007 Brendon returned to Newcastle where he has been involved in school leadership and culture development across several independent schools.
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With a career spanning over 27 years in secondary school education, Brendon brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for fostering nurturing student cultures and deeply engaged school communities.
Brendon’s commitment to education extends beyond traditional methods; his experience in school development has shaped him to become a staunch advocate for the strength of smaller, community-oriented schools that offer real-world learning experiences. His goal is to prioritise and cultivate positive cultures within secondary schools, ensuring that every student benefits from a secure and engaging educational experience.
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When he’s not championing educational excellence, Brendon enjoys exploring the great outdoors with his children. Whether hiking, mountain biking, or savouring a well-brewed cup of coffee, he values quality time spent in nature and with loved ones.
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Brendon’s blend of professional expertise and personal enthusiasm makes him a valuable asset to our team, dedicated to enhancing both community and culture within our educational framework.

Teaching & Learning, Humanities
Joshua Brown
Joshua grew up in the scenic rim of northern NSW and spent his childhood building tree houses and bike tracks along the river bank on his parents sugar cane farm. Given time and space to roam, Joshua’s childhood was a mix of creativity and enterprise with canoes made from roofing iron and billy cart races down the main street of town.
From an early age Joshua had a love of reading, outdoor adventure and contemplation. He attended a variety of schools, both public and private as well as a year of homeschooling while travelling around Australia. This diversity of experience has gifted Joshua with an appreciation of the ingredients that make for effective and enjoyable learning.
Joshua received a scholarship and moved south to the Hunter Region to study a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (2007). During this time he took advantage of opportunities to volunteer with young people in the local and international communities. After graduation, Joshua went on to teach at local public and independent schools while refining his craft as an English teacher by studying a Master of Arts (Writing & Literature) at Deakin University.
Parallel to these academic pursuits, he became increasingly passionate about facilitating outdoor education experiences - organising and leading annual expeditions and multi-day hikes. Joshua completed a Cert IV in Outdoor Leadership and founded the Invictus Wellbeing Program which now runs in schools across Australia and New Zealand. This experience allowed him to spend a number of years travelling to schools in Australia and abroad in order to train staff and glean insights about education in a variety of contexts.
Joshua’s most recent role has been Leader of Learning (Humanities) in a cross disciplinary faculty that fosters student learning through project orientated pedagogy. As an experienced HSC marker, 7-12 teacher and curious learner himself, Joshua is passionate about Socratic pedagogy that gives space for every voice to be heard, every intelligence to emerge and for every child to feel relationally connected as they tread the path towards adulthood.
Outside of term time you are likely to find Joshua with his wife and two kids, heading up a lonely dirt road in their camper trailer, looking for a remote view, a secluded waterhole or an unmarked free camp.

Humanities
Sue Hatfield-Smith
Sue spent her formative years learning from her Nan and Pop on their self-sustaining farm in the hinterland of the Hawkesbury River. Experiences like driving a tractor, horse riding, and drenching cattle, allowed her to push the boundaries of what she could do. It was here that she learnt the importance of community connection when, at the end of these hard, hot weekends, her Pop would invite his community to share what little they had. Her Nan taught her the importance of care for country and how a shared meal could build and nurture this community.
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Growing up on the Central Coast she found a sense of empathy and fairness through the various sports she did with her brothers. When she began coaching, she realized her gifts lay in building strong relationships that valued the contributions of others, and developed each person’s individual abilities.
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She went from building bike tracks on her family farm to building her own home at an early age with her partner. Her enjoyment of a challenge and learning new things was instrumental in the success of the many projects she undertook, teaching her the value of perspective taking, problem solving and collaboration.
Inspired by her relationship with her own HSC English teacher, Sue realized the power of literature to transcend time, allowing us to meet ourselves in other peoples’ stories. But it was as she bushwalked, listening with awe and wonder to her nan’s stories, that she realised her passion for teaching.
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Graduating from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Teaching (English), Sue has gone on to work in education for the past 20 years. Her experience as a Leader of Learning, Leader of Wellbeing, Gifted Education Project Officer, University Lecturer and classroom teacher continue to revitalize her passion for an education that is relevant to young people and grounded in a curiosity about themselves and their world.
Sue is currently continuing her quest for knowledge as she travels Australia with her husband and two children, spending time in remote communities and spectacular landscapes. She still enjoys playing sports with her friends and reading extensively but her great love is still drifting about on her boat, fishing.

STEM
Dr Sarah Clifford
Sarah is an accomplished educator with a rich and diverse background, shaped by a unique
blend of academic achievements and life experiences.
Growing up in a rural community in Northern New South Wales, Sarah was homeschooled up to Year 6 before moving to the Lake Macquarie region. This early experience instilled in her an appreciation for hands-on learning, creativity and adaptability, values that continue to inform her teaching today.
After earning her undergraduate degree at Avondale College with Distinction (BSc in Chemistry and Physics followed by BTeach while completing Honours in Environmental Chemistry at Newcastle University) she completed her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Newcastle University in 2008. She went on to complete postdoctoral research in Geneva, where she developed her scientific expertise alongside mastering the French language and exploring the beautiful Swiss Alps.
Her passion for global learning and discovery led her to travel around the world for a year before
eventually settling back in Lake Macquarie, where she started a family. She now has two young boys aged six and nine.
As the co-Director of Jplus Consulting, Sarah also leads an innovative software company focused on the numerical analysis of chemical processes, providing cutting-edge solutions in her field. With a strong foundation in academia, she has been a Chemistry and Education university lecturer for eight years as well as being a high school science teacher during the past decade. Sarah brings her passion for lifelong learning and an innovative approach to the science education at Novoschool.
Outside of her professional achievements, Sarah enjoys an active lifestyle with her partner Leanne and their sons, staying fit through basketball, soccer, trail running, CrossFit, and Taekwondo. In her downtime, she enjoys playing guitar, piano, drawing, and painting—and loves that her boys are always eager to join in, no matter the activity.

STEM
Rochelle Smith
Rochelle grew up in the heart of Sydney, where her family's deep love for literature was matched only by their fondness for lively Maths quizzes at family dinner. Raised by a mother who was a teacher, Rochelle spent countless afternoons immersed in the classroom, cultivating her own passion for education.
Receiving a scholarship to pursue teaching, she began her formal journey to become an educator at the University of Wollongong in 2008 where she graduated with Distinction. During her studies, Rochelle worked in schools as a Learning Support Officer, which sparked her enthusiasm for supporting diverse learners.
Her career took shape as she worked across various schools in Sydney, where she furthered her expertise with additional training as a reading specialist and headed up Learning Support teams. This role intensified her dedication towards meeting students at their individual levels and helping them reach their full potential.
Relocating to the Hunter region in 2018, Rochelle was appointed as Coordinator of Teaching and Learning at a K-12 school. There, she focused on exploring diverse pedagogical approaches, coaching beginning teachers and facilitating programs for High-Potential Learners, whilst continually refining her own classroom approach to education.
Beyond her professional life, Rochelle is a passionate environmentalist and dedicated volunteer with a local animal rescue group, where she specialises in fostering neonatal kittens. Her home is often a temporary haven for over ten felines, a situation she and her partner embrace with joy and commitment.
Rochelle’s extensive background in supporting students as individuals aligns seamlessly with the Novoschool approach. She is devoted to nurturing students’ curiosity and love of learning, allowing them to become proactive, global citizens.

Music & Performing Arts
Andrew Scully
Growing up in Newcastle in a musical family, Andrew can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a part of his life. Church played a formative role in his development as a musician, but later years saw him detour into rock and jazz, contributing to his diverse experiences and expertise as a songwriter and performer.
He attended Warners Bay High School where an important teacher and mentor inspired him to pursue education as a career. Opportunities such as performances at the Opera House, school musicals and performances around NSW further instilled a passion for performing arts. After finishing Year 12, Andrew attended the University of Newcastle where he graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Music, a Master of Educational Studies and a Master of Leadership and Management.
Andrew has taught in both state and independent schools around NSW and for the last 24 years, led Creative and Performing Arts departments. Recent years have seen Andrew writing musicals and facilitating various student performances in industry based venues around Newcastle. Frequenting places like the Civic Playhouse, Lizotte’s and 48 Watt Street, Andrew strives to create meaningful, authentic experiences for young people, creating not just memories, but opportunities to see what is possible when you pursue your passion.
Most recently, Andrew has begun working with students in cinematography and film creation, facilitating the creation of feature length films that were screened in cinema. Andrew has also developed practical industry skills by visiting several professional recording studios in Australia and abroad alongside completing a course through Berklee College of Music. This has allowed him to transform traditional learning spaces into studios and has worked with students to record a number of original compositions and establish a record label whereby they release their music directly onto streaming platforms. He has developed active relationships with recording studios in Sydney and Melbourne.
For Andrew, the Arts is an opportunity for students to create and collaborate with each other while building confidence and developing a part of themselves that they may not have considered before. Out of school hours, you’ll find him playing an instrument or watching/analysing a movie to work out how he can incorporate it into a lesson at school.

Visual Arts & Media
Kimberly Brown
Kimberly grew up exploring the mountains and freshwater lakes of British Columbia, Canada. Living in an agricultural valley meant lots of space, freedom, practical hard work and a small school. This came with rare learning opportunities; like the design and construction of outdoor ice rinks and a rock climbing wall, regular outdoor education and the autonomy to organise and run festivals and tournaments. Thanks to the teachers who were willing to move to Nowheresville, Canada, Kimberly actually remembers school and understands firsthand how valuable the right learning environment can be.
She has always been a project-oriented, interest-driven learner with a voracious appetite for novelty, which is to say, she was and is constantly making things, taking up new hobbies or travelling.
At University, Kimberly explored degree subjects as diverse as Engineering, Pre-Medical sciences, Business Communications and Advanced Ceramics (what David Epstein calls “range” her parents called “expensive”). But a few weeks of volunteering with young people in South America convinced her that education was the right path.
She moved to Australia and obtained a BA/BTch (with distinction, 2009) and qualifications to teach English Literature, Visual Arts, Science and Mathematics. She went on to teach Years 7-12 at schools in the Hunter and Central Coast regions where she uncovered a passion for helping inspire and motivate students who struggled to thrive in more conventional classes.
For the past few years, while taking time to raise their two kids, Kimberly has had the opportunity to pursue art as a career path; creating art for exhibitions, festivals, murals and is now author-illustrator of a picture book being published in 2025 (Affirm Press).
Other than that, Kimberly will be out there looking for quiet and wild places up trails and down rivers, where everything is free to be completely itself and in so doing, fit perfectly into place.

PDHP & Sport
Erin Hitchcock
Erin is excited to join the Novoschool community as a PDHPE and Sport teacher. With a Bachelor of Education (Secondary PDHPE) from Avondale University and over 11 years of experience in education, Erin brings a passion for fostering physical literacy, health, and well-being in students. She has taught in part-time and casual roles across a range of settings and is thrilled to now be working with students at Novoschool.
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Growing up in the Lake Macquarie region, Erin was raised in a family of educators, her grandfather a publisher and author of primary school textbooks. Surrounded by a love for teaching, she developed a deep respect for the power of education from a young age. Erin’s teaching philosophy is grounded in student-centered learning, where each individual is supported to reach their full potential through engaging, active, and meaningful experiences. She strives to create an environment where students not only develop their physical skills but also build confidence, teamwork, and a love for lifelong health and fitness.
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Before becoming a teacher, Erin had the opportunity to coach tennis while completing her university studies. Sport has always been a central part of her life, and while she was involved in a wide range of sports growing up, her true passion has always been tennis. Erin brings that enthusiasm and experience to the classroom, aiming to inspire students to explore and enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
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Outside of the classroom, Erin is a proud mother of three young, active boys. Her family enjoys spending time together on caravanning trips and adventure holidays, creating lasting memories with family and friends. These experiences keep her grounded and remind her of the importance of balance—something she encourages her students to prioritise in their own lives.
Erin looks forward to working with students at Novoschool to help them grow not only as athletes, but as confident, healthy individuals.