Finally Feeling Proud Of Myself.

As the K-6 Principal at Richmond N.S.W. 1999-2003. Part Two.

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What’s that I wrote?

Finally Feeling Proud Of Myself as The K-6 Principal at Richmond!!

Yes, it’s true.

I am writing about it more as it’s 22 years this week since my emotional health tipped me into burnout mode after a VERY challenging year managing a large primary school with NO substantive executive staff in 2002.

BUT here’s what HAS changed.

For the better.

In fact, for the positive and oh-so-much better memories for me.

I did write here recently as a Part One.

This is Part Two.

And from time to time there will be other posts.

Back When….2002 - early 2004.

I was so traumatised by my “failure” to remain in the role of school principal due to my breakdown that I literally could not drive on Windsor Road in the direction I had for the previous 4 years on my way to school.

• I became stressed if I saw school-aged children within a school setting who may have been breaking school rules.

• I was there as a Grandparent…to a young student…but was “still in principal” role.

• I had therapy. I put what I learned into practice.

• I saw friends and family.

I knew I was loved and cared for BUT with the exception of one colleague* , and my direct bosses I heard from very few. I know my GP’s instructions were that the school should have no contact with me.

• I felt lost and it was hard because I LOVED what I did in schools as a career.

• I felt ashamed of how I had left that school…just not going back after hearing of a potential lobby from a staff group who wanted to undermine me and my leadership.

• It felt wrong too, that I had to resign to be able to get some sort of superannuation payout, and that I HAD to jump through many legal hoops to finally receive a lump sum.

And it started, over the course of a year, that I could feel a sense of ending but that I could consider beginnings too.

• In early 2004 I had been out of schools for over a year but I was healing and needed contact with colleagues, kids and schools again!

• My colleague* was opening a brand new school and I visited her and said “I would love to do a couple of casual days”….

Here’s two she said, could go up to three and it’s release from face to face teaching K-6 and you can choose the Key Learning Area. Wow. I ended up choosing Creative Arts and it was a shock to my system doing that teaching load initially and then I morphed into the English as Second Language Teacher and did a Post Grad Certificate in TESOL.

We met up last year for first time in ages and continue to do so.

I was back! Until the end of 2009 aged 60 and I had tired out and we were caring for grandkids by then…but I could still feel that pull of shame and regret.

Moving On…into the decades beyond.

I had enough courage by 2012 to want to connect again with education communities and continue my engagement with all matters related to teaching and school leadership because I enjoyed it at the volunteer level.

I was employed to do some extra work with Masters of Teaching students at University and I was asked a number of times to be an external observer of school executive wanting to go further with accreditation.

I even gave a couple of talks at Teach Meets.

I was proud to have been a N.S.W. Department of Education (from 1970) employee and finally got to have the recognition of my contribution via an official retirement event at the end of 2018.

My farewell where now Secretary of NSW Education presented me with my service medal. Our daughter is left in stripe top.

The badge on right of image is my Primary Schools Principals’ Association Membership.

Now, what happened next?

Life on the coast continued as did regular trips to Sydney to see my father, the family and of course for my oral cancer checks.

In 2023 we made the move back from the Central Coast to the area of North Western Sydney we know so well, happily renting a small house in Rouse Hill.

I got to have meet ups (and still do) with friends who were principals too.

We chat a LOT about the similarities of our experiences in our careers. I mentioned some of this in Part One.

And last week I made a decision I am very proud of….

I went back…to Richmond Public School. I did not want to go inside and there is literally no-one there I would know now BUT…and this is the BIG news, I was finally confident about my presence there….

and so very pleased to have made personal and professional contributions to the school and its community in my role as Principal.

I will write more of that another time.

Thanks for being here!

Denyse.

Here I am joining with Min and friends for here Wednesday’s Words and Whimsy today.

And for the time it’s needed I’ve become a member of #TeamWWWhimsy to ensure the commenting is shared and conversations continue.