Visual Storytelling to Represent and Communicate Perth Modern School’s Identity
Focus: Use effective classroom communication to support student participation and agency (3.5); Engage parents and carers in the educative process (3.7); Engage in professional learning and improve practice in collaboration with colleagues (6.3); Meet professional ethics and responsibilities in visual representation and communication (7.1); Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities (7.4)
Situation
Since 2022, I have actively contributed to shaping how Perth Modern School communicates its values, achievements, and learning culture through multi-thematic and purpose-driven visual media. Beginning with video projects that amplified student voice, I quickly became involved in broader storytelling initiatives, including the creation of assets for the school review, Year 12 presentations, competitions like Opus, and most recently, the visual rollout of the school’s new values as articulated in the 2025 Business Plan.
I have had the privilege of not only documenting, but co-constructing the evolving story of the school as a place of academic rigour, inclusivity, and excellence in public education. My role as a teacher—and as a former photojournalist and branding expert—uniquely positions me to blend narrative insight with lived experience to create authentic and high-quality representations of Perth Modern's identity.
Action
Produced a range of strategic video and social media assets that serve both internal and external communication goals, helping the school maintain strong alignment with its identity and community expectations.
Collaborated with leadership and colleagues to ensure that media outputs aligned with the school’s educational priorities and cultural values.
Took a lead role in the Curtin University research project, commissioned by the WA Department of Education, to develop the Centre for Excellence in the Explicit Teaching of Literacy. As part of this team, I planned and executed visual assets that clearly communicated the project’s aims, implementation, and success stories across participating schools.
Applied design thinking principles to the production process, ensuring each asset addressed a core communication purpose—such as clarity, connection, celebration, or explanation.
Participated in community events and special projects to visually represent Perth Modern’s connection to its broader community of practice.
Outcome
Strengthened whole-school engagement and community identity through the development of compelling, professional-quality visual narratives.
Supported the school’s strategic communication objectives by helping stakeholders—students, staff, parents, and the public—understand the school’s values and learning environment in a coherent, accessible way.
Built internal capacity for effective school communication by mentoring students and colleagues in the planning and execution of storytelling-based media.
Developed an archive of re-usable, purpose-fit visual resources that can be shared across platforms, creating a consistent and values-led voice for the school.
Deepened my understanding of how to ethically and strategically communicate in educational contexts, especially when representing public institutions, diverse communities, and student voice.
Future Directions
Moving forward, I hope to further support Perth Modern School’s communication by:
Creating a dedicated podcasting platform to share conversations with students, staff, and alumni about learning, leadership, and impact.
Using social media platforms in more community-facing ways—showcasing Perth Modern as a public school that leads with creativity, academic depth, and a strong ethical culture.
Contributing to the school’s ongoing digital strategy and upskilling others in ethical storytelling, inclusive representation, and platform-specific content creation.
Research and Framing
Effective school communication is increasingly seen as central to building trust, transparency, and meaningful engagement between schools and their communities (Epstein, 2011; Baker et al., 2021). Research shows that authentic, multimedia storytelling can foster stronger emotional connections with families, help articulate a school’s vision, and demystify the learning journey (Westmoreland et al., 2009). Additionally, visual media can reduce barriers to participation for parents from diverse linguistic or cultural backgrounds (Goodall, 2016).
By applying these insights through my professional background and ongoing practice, I aim to ensure Perth Modern’s voice is not only heard—but truly seen and felt—across its community and beyond