Teachers & Schools

The Wollongong Combined Churches Education Board exists as the representative organisation to provide special religious education in our local high schools for all students who wish to participate in (SRE) under the oversight of the approved SRE provider Churches of the Wollongong area.

Samar Musson

Smiths Hill High School

Samar Musson teaches SRE at Smiths Hill High School three days a week. She teaches year 7 and 8 within the school timetable and year 9-12 after school. She also runs two lunchtime groups, helps the school with sport and meets with senior leaders who run the lunchtime groups for planning and encouragement. Samar is passionate about seeing God working in students' lives as students come to know him and are encouraged by the Christian community at Smiths Hill, as well as youth groups they can connect with. Samar is married to Zac and loves spending time with him, family and friends and enjoying/exploring God's amazing creation together.

Ruth Smith

Figtree High School

Ruth Smith is one of the Youth and Young Adult Ministers at Figtree Anglican Church and she teaches SRE at Figtree Highschool one day a week. She teaches six year 7 classes and runs an emerging lunchtime group each week. Ruth is passionate about youth / school ministry as she sees the incredible importance of ministering to young people in their formative years. She is praying for great connections between the students and their local youth ministries where they can continue to learn about and encounter our great God.

Victoria Vassallo

Warrawong High School

Victoria Vassallo started teaching SRE at Warrawong High in 2024. She teaches one year 7 and 8 class and one year 9 and 10 class. The lunchtime group has had a handful of different students visiting each week. After many years of prayer God has made a way for scripture in this area and enrolments increase every year. Victoria spends the rest of the week with her three children, helping at playgroup, playing tennis and teaching scripture at Mt St Thomas Public School.

Mitch Cornford

Illawarra Sports High School

Mitch Cornford is a young, passionate Christian who has just started teaching at Illawarra Sports High School (ISH) this year. Thursdays and Fridays he is at ISH teaching Year 7 one week and 8 the other. Along with leading the Youth Group at Albion Park Anglican Church and studying at Youthworks College Mondays and Tuesdays, this is a real highlight in Mitch's week as he gets to see those at ISH learning that the creator of the world loves them more than they will ever know.

Matt Shannon

Keira High School

Matt Shannon is the Youth Minister at St Michael's Anglican Cathedral Wollongong, and also teaches SRE at Keira High School one day a week. He teaches Year 7 and 8 classes and runs a lunchtime group. Matt is passionate about seeing the Bible taught to young people, and loves seeing connections made between schools and local churches. He's married to Ali (who he loves to hang out with) and spends his spare time listening to music and playing golf.

Liz Shannon

Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

Liz Shannon is teaching SRE and running lunchtime groups at WHSPA Mondays and Fridays. She decided to take God seriously at the end of highschool and loves being able to teach the Bible and encourage people in their relationship with God. She enjoys spending time with her husband and kids watching them play sport, playing video games and watching anime together.