South Coast school principal says her job is a chance to learn

What was the most unexpected thing you have had to do in your job?

We are fortunate to have an amazing kitchen garden in our school. Occasionally, the neighbour’s chickens come to visit and need to be escorted home!

How transferable are your skills?

I love teaching and working in a school. I think I have the best job in the world and have never wanted to do anything else. Having said that, as a principal in a NSW public school, I’ve had opportunities to develop skills in leadership and management that would be transferable to other leadership and management positions.

How have you coped during the COVID-19 crisis?

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The COVID-19 crisis has created challenges for us all. In education moving between learning at school and learning at home presented the need to work in ways that were different to normal school operations. Keeping the needs of students at the heart of decision-making made managing these challenges easier. Making sure that student learning and engagement was the key focus and that teachers and the school community were supported in enhancing this ensured we were able to thrive rather than just survive.

What advice do you have for people wanting to get into this career?

A teaching degree is required for employment as a teacher/principal in a NSW public school. A love of working with children is paramount. Developing children socially, emotionally and academically is both a challenge and an incredible privilege. There are usually opportunities to volunteer at schools in various capacities and so, if you aren’t sure if this is the career for you, spending time in a school first could provide some clarification.

What personal skills do they need?

A desire to make a difference in the lives of children is why most people enter the teaching profession. Being patient, kind and compassionate will help foster genuine rapport with students and their families and create a highly effective learning environment. High expectations and a belief that all students are capable of learning and achieving their best makes a genuine difference to every student and creates opportunities for them to be successful now and into the future.

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