Walk past any History classroom at William Clarke College over the past two decades and chances are you’ll have heard Mr Omar Chahine bringing the past to life. For the hundreds of students who have sat under his teaching, Mr Chahine has been a dedicated educator who is celebrating 20 years of service this year. During his time at the College, this inspiring and forward-thinking teacher has led through change, taught with purpose, supported students with compassion, and shaped a culture of learning grounded in both high standards and mutual respect.

His journey at the College began with a surprise. After four years at Macarthur Anglican School, Mr Chahine applied for a History teaching role. He was offered not just the job but the position of Head of Langdon House as well. “From the moment I started, I knew that this would be a hard school to leave,” he reflected.

Now 20 years later, Mr Chahine has become an unmistakable presence in the life of William Clarke. He has led students and staff through seasons of growth, challenge and change, never losing sight of the values that matter most.

His pathway through leadership reflects both depth and versatility: four years as Head of Langdon House, eight years as Head of History, four years as Head of Year, two years as Director of Character Education before stepping into his current role of Director of Student Learning (7-12) in October 2023. Throughout these career changes, he has never stopped teaching. He has also continued to be actively involved in HSC marking and presenting outside the College, including working as a Senior Marker for the Modern History HSC exams since 2014 and conducting sessional teaching at the University of Notre Dame.

“Our students are what has kept me here for so long,” he remarked. “And the culture that exists around the positive-teacher-student relationships within the College. I’ve also loved working in a place that so authentically and respectfully seeks to make Christ known to all, regardless of background or belief.”

This deep sense of purpose has shaped everything Mr Chahine does. Grounded in his Christian faith, he approaches leadership with clarity, humility, strength and a strong sense of calling.

“Knowing that I am not my own and that I belong to Christ gives me a clear sense of what it is that I am ultimately trying to achieve,” he shared. “Having a clear sense of who I am and what my purpose is acts as an important reminder to be humble and serve wholeheartedly in my role.”

Throughout his time at the College, Mr Chahine has taught, mentored, and led with integrity and insight, making a steady impact that resonates well beyond the walls of his classroom. He often speaks of the students and the staff who have inspired him to be the best that he can be. “I’m most thankful to God and the way He has grown me through the ups and downs,” he said. “I am grateful for the colleagues who became friends and for the students who inspired me more than I taught them.” He chuckles at the thought of his various Year 12 History classes where students “allowed me to laugh at their expense and who would laugh back at my expense” as some of his fondest memories.

Mr Chahine’s love of History has always been more than a subject: it’s a way of helping students make sense of the world and their place in it. “I love the freedom I have to naturally draw links between the history I teach and the Christian worldview in the classroom,” he reflected. “I love the transcendent basis for seeing our students as inherently precious and having objective purpose.”

That heart for students runs deep. Mr Chahine has always championed an educational environment where teachers help develop extraordinary learners, where challenge is welcomed, growth is encouraged and hope is found in the knowledge of God’s goodness.

He believes his passion for student wellbeing was also shaped during his postgraduate studies. “Completing my Masters in Education (focusing on Student Wellbeing) helped me understand what matters most to students and helping them grow through adversity, which really allowed me to build connections with the Year Groups I led from 2018 to 2022,” he said. Just as formative was his time as Director of Character Education, which he described as “a deeply transformative and enriching experience”, one that allowed him to explore how Christian identity and purpose sit at the heart of character formation. Along the way, he was also deeply impacted by the colleagues who modelled courage, integrity and a wholehearted commitment to caring for students.

Mr Chahine has seen education shift in many ways over the past two decades, particularly with the impact of technology on students’ lives and wellbeing. “The most significant challenge which has emerged over the past 20 years is the proliferation of the smartphone and the way in which this has shaped the culture our students breathe,” he stated. “Watching the different ways in which schools and students responded to the challenges and uncertainty created by COVID-19 and the lockdowns was really interesting. It highlighted the importance of building resilience and nurturing character in young people.” Given the realities of education today, Mr Chahine’s convictions have remained steady. “See and treat the student as I’d want a teacher to treat my child,” he said. “See the child as a fellow human being, rather than just a ‘student’.”

It’s hard to capture in words the breadth of impact one teacher can have over 20 years. But ask students, staff and families within the College community and you’ll hear story after story of someone who took the time to listen, to teach, to lead with conviction and to remind others of who they are in Christ. Mr Chahine is that sort of teacher.

We’re grateful for all that Mr Chahine has brought to the College since he started back in 2005, including his strength and steadiness, his sharp mind and quick wit, his deep care for students, and the way he has consistently invested in those around him, both in and beyond the classroom. He continues to remind us that each student is not only an extraordinary learner but someone deeply known and loved by God.

By Catherine Sanchez, Publications Officer