Named after our co-founding Principal Diana Medlin, the Centre aims to elevate Pembroke’s reputation as a career destination, with all the associated benefits this creates for our students.
Didi’s Legacy
Diana Medlin AM, or Didi as she was affectionately known, studied at Cambridge University and continued into research under Nobel Prize winner Lord Todd before pursuing her love of teaching back in South Australia. As Principal of Girton Girls' School from 1971, she was a driving force in its merger with King’s College, serving as Co-Principal alongside John Moody from 1974 to 1978, then as Principal until 1990.
An education trailblazer, she attracted the highest quality of academic staff to assist her in introducing the International Baccalaureate to Pembroke, creating South Australia's first IB School and supporting the programme's growth across Australasia.
Didi believed in giving back and positively influencing, serving on a range of boards and educational bodies. This legacy of excellence in education, research, innovation and service is honoured in the work of the Didi Medlin Centre.
The Didi Medlin Centre for Professional Growth
Pembroke has a rich and varied professional development schedule, with curated opt-in sessions run on a weekly basis by teachers and professional services staff to meet needs identified through our individual professional growth planning process.
The Didi Medlin Centre also supports the work of our Instructional Coaching Program, with six instructional coaches working across all areas of the School. In addition, the Quality Teacher Rounds program provides opportunities for teachers to collaborate and reflect deeply on their practice using the research-backed Quality Teaching Model.
One of our unique initiatives is our Sabbatical Program where all permanent staff can apply for leave to conduct research in an area of school life. These studies have resulted in meaningful impacts in areas as diverse as our Athlete Development Program, the effects of different classroom layouts on teacher practice and our use of digital technology.
The Didi Medlin Centre also provides guidance and support, including financially, for many staff completing further studies.
Empowered by Didi’s legacy, the Centre has great ambitions to reinforce Pembroke as a career destination while modelling the premise that we are all lifelong learners.
