How long have you been an educator, and where did you train?
I trained and initially taught as a secondary school English teacher in Cape Town. I had the wonderful Mrs Newman, who inspired and instilled a love for literature in my final two years at school. I have taught and led at local intermediate schools for the past 28 years. Pre-adolescents are amazing!
When did you become principal of Somerville Intermediate School?
I’ve had a long association with Somerville Intermediate. I was deputy principal from 2007-2014 and returned as principal in 2019, after my principalship at Howick Intermediate.
What’s the best thing about being an educator and principal?
Working with students and other educators to enable them to achieve more than they could have ever imagined. Education is the lever that lifts the ceiling. Having high expectations, a positive school culture, and providing a safe environment and appropriate resources for students and staff to thrive, enable me to have a profound influence on education. I’m very invested in growing other educational leaders and coaching them to maximise their potential. I have the privilege of shaping and equipping young citizens and future leaders. It’s a pleasure and a responsibility I take very seriously.
What’s special about Somerville Intermediate?
The answer is simple: It’s the people – students, staff and our wonderful parent community. We all work together to ensure our school culture is one where every person is connected, has a strong sense of belonging, is valued and supported to be the best they can be. We make no excuses for having high expectations. Our students deserve the very best, and we have a mindset of continuous improvement. The many and varied opportunities, and additional resources the board and parent community put to enriching educational experiences, make all the difference. Our students are extremely well served. We simply would not be able to provide the high level of education our students deserve with the funding and staffing we receive from the Ministry of Education.
Is there anything you’d like improved in the education/school management sector?
For decades, educators have been saying that we need bipartisanship in education. For too long, education has been a political football and rhetoric has focused on political point scoring. Implementing and embedding effective practices are continually undermined, and teachers get caught in a cycle of change rather than improvement. Support for students is under-resourced, and timely access to specialist teachers and support agencies is limited. Teachers need greater support in providing for students with increasingly complex needs. Highly effective educational leaders know what high impact practice looks like. However, repeatedly, our expertise is undervalued, and participation is token.
How is the relationship between Somerville Intermediate and its immediate local community?
We have a strong and positive partnership with our local community and collaborate with a number of community groups and organisations. The confidence and support from the school community make leading at Somerville Intermediate rewarding.
