Michael Parker (headmaster)

Michael Parker is an Australian educationalist who has been the deputy headmaster of Cranbrook School, principal of Oxley College and is currently the 19th headmaster of the Sydney GPS school Newington College. He is an enthusiastic proponent of a liberal education. He has been vocal in the current debate in Australia on radically improving education on consent, gender relations and respect. His public profile has risen as he supported his students decision to publicly protest about issues relating to climate change in Australia. In 2026, Newington will become co-educational with the admittance of girls into Year 5 with the intention of being fully co-ed by 2033.

Family and education
Born in Sydney, Parker grew up in the north-western suburbs of North Rocks. He has two younger brothers. His father was English-born and designed electrical engineering equipment and his mother is Maltese-born. She was a paymaster for a local company when he was growing up. Educated locally, Parker attended the academically selective James Ruse Agricultural High School in his teenage years. He is an arts and law graduate of the University of Sydney. Upon graduation Parker commenced his career as a high school teacher. Parker has a masters degree in teaching philosophy to children. His wife, Fiona Morrison, is an associate professor in literary studies at UNSW and they have two teenage daughters.

Career

 * English teacher and housemaster – Cranbrook School
 * Teacher – Eton College
 * Head of English – Newington College 2002 to 2007
 * Deputy headmaster at Cranbrook 2008–2014
 * Principal – Oxley College 2014–2018
 * Headmaster – Newington College since 1 January 2019

Publications

 * Talk with your kids : ethics : conversations about honesty, bullying, difference, acceptance and 105 other things that really matter
 * Talk with your kids : big ideas : conversations about democracy, infinity, environment, war and punishment, humanity and 77 other big ideas
 * Masters in pieces  : the English Canon for the twenty-first century / Michael Parker and co-written by Fiona Morrison
 * His young adult novel Doppelganger was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards in 2007
 * His teen novel Laverick High Inc was published by Longmans in 1993
 * He also co wrote a children's picture book You are A Star which was published in the United States of America, Brazil, Korea and China
 * His Ethics Book : is being republished in October 2021 including new material and a new title Talk with Your Kids about Things that Matter.

Documentary
A documentary Inspiring Teachers, which followed Parker's teaching during 2007, was screened on SBS Television in 2008 and 2009.

Trekking
Parker is widely travelled, particularly in Nepal, having undertaken four major treks including past Camp One at 20,000 feet on Mount Everest.