Bachelor of Education (Primary), 2003
Education is in Mike Mount-Bryson’s blood.
“My Pop was a teacher and school administrator for many years,” Mike explains. “I still remember going to Karrinyup Primary School and walking the corridors with Pop as a very young kid – I just remember the really good vibe and lots of goodwill towards him.
“My uncle was an educator. My Mum was a Special Needs Education Assistant (EA) for 25 plus years, so it is in the blood - I was probably destined to be in the education space in some way.”
After finishing high school, Mike worked in various jobs before starting out on his own teaching pathway.
“I did some average jobs that helped me realise that if you don't love what you do, it's going to be a long life. They were okay jobs, but I wanted a passion space,” Mike says.
“One of my first jobs in schools was a special needs EA, and then I decided to bite the bullet and do the mature age entry to uni.”
Mike completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Edith Cowan University (ECU), before heading straight for the country after graduating in 2003.
"I spent four fantastic years at ECU and had a good idea of what I was getting into. Being part of a teaching family, you hear all the good stories - a bit less of the bad ones - but you also understand, it’s not about leaving a legacy, it's just making today better than it was yesterday for students."
“I won a scholarship to go bush, and went to Norseman. That was great fun - country location, mining town, really eclectic in the diversity and difference in that community.”
Mike then spent the next 15 years in various country locations, from York to Northam to Yealering, moving from teaching into leadership roles.
“Then in 2018 I landed the principal job at Lockridge Primary School, and as much as I loved my time in Yealering and Norsey and York, Lockridge has just been the biggest professional blessing of my life,” he says.
“I think I led it like a country school, in a lot of ways. Country schooling is special. You're immersed in a culture where kids see you all the time - you might be playing cricket with their dads, or at the shop getting a paper on the weekend and see half a dozen of your students - so you always have to be a level of ‘on’.
“And so coming to a community like Lockridge from 15 years in the country, I think it stood me in good stead to lead in the same way - really present, really open, really transparent.”
Mike knew he had a big job ahead of him, but was up for the challenge, committing to providing stability at the school.
“It was a challenging time to start with, but Lockridge had some amazing people and we built an even more outstanding group of staff, beautiful group of students and great parent and family support,” he says.
“I think we drove the agenda at Lockridge in the same way (as country schools) - let's invest in each other. We wanted to make Lockridge be seen differently to what people have viewed it traditionally - people looked at Lockridge and turned their nose up, and we wanted to really push back on that stereotype.
“And now, people look at us and go ‘gee, look at what Locko is doing’ and we love that. We love that we can change people's opinion. We love that people started coming to us at Lockridge to get support and insights into how to do things well.”
A major career highlight for Mike and his team, in 2024 Lockridge Primary School was awarded the Western Australian Education Award for Excellence in Wellbeing and Learning.
“We went from a school of major challenges, some staff disharmony, lack of stability and consistency – and ended up being school of the year for wellbeing and learning,” Mike says.
“It wasn't my doing, it's the amazing staff we've put together over the last four or five years - a very stable staff. No one left, everyone was really invested and just an outstanding group - that connection is really important in schools, and Lockridge is just a really, really special school.”
While he still holds the substantive position of Principal at Lockridge, Mike has recently moved across to the Department of Education, as Principal Advisor - Student Wellbeing and Care.
“We've got a really important role to play in making sure that wellbeing and engagement in schools is really strategically implemented, and that we can make sure we're taking care of kids so that their learning can be bolstered,” he explains. “The complexity of our students and of our society is more challenging than ever, so I think it's outstanding that our Department recognises that, and is working really hard – they have a wonderful lens on what’s happening in schools.
“One aspect of my role is to find ways to support Principals and class teachers with everyday solutions to some of their biggest challenges; an increasing number of students presenting with complex needs, the challenge of building quality whole-school approaches to student wellbeing, decreasing staff workload pressures and helping connect with agencies like Health and Communities.
“So trying to bring some of these groups and agencies together is really exciting. I think the more connection and work we do together, the better it's going to be for our staff, and then most certainly be better for our kids when we're doing things in a more coordinated and aligned way.”
It’s clear that Mike’s years across many levels of the education sector have given him both incredible experience and empathy, making him well placed to advise future teachers.
“Trust your judgement on where you want to take your career,” he says. “If you want to be a teacher, be an agent for positive change. In a classroom, you can help set the agenda for your students and give them the runway to succeed.”
And as for what’s next?
“What’s next for me will be what’s right for our system. If that’s back in schools – great. If I continue in a system role – that’s great too.
“I do very much have a system service mindset and I have for many years. It's my strong belief, and ECU was important in this space too, as I was a slightly mature age student getting my degree and in education - we're in a role of service in public education.
“Our job is to serve those around us – serve down, serve up – and my future is wherever I’m best able to serve.”
