Courtenay Gardens Primary School captains Amy and James with principal Loretta Hamilton, who has been in the Education Department for 35 years and teacher David Hess, who has served 38 years.
By Sarah Schwager
THE founding principal at Courtenay Gardens Primary School has celebrated 35 years in education.
Loretta Hamilton was congratulated by her students with hundreds of cards and drawings, which filled her office.
Ms Hamilton is the founding and only principal at Courtenay Gardens since it opened in 1994.
“I have loved my time at Courtenay Gardens,” she said.
“It’s the dream of any principal to establish their own school and choose their own staff. You get to run the school how you would like to see it run.”
Ms Hamilton said she had always wanted to be a teacher, and had played school with her sister as a child.
She said since attending teachers’ college she had done a range of things, including running a talented and gifted program, obtaining a degree in computer education and working as a teacher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on exchange.
“I love my job and I love my kids.
“That day (my anniversary) all the preps came into my office to sing a Happy 35th song. I think they thought I was turning 35, which I didn’t deny,” Ms Hamilton said.
“And the preps didn’t just make cards, they drew pictures of me as well. It was really good.”
Ms Hamilton said she was particularly proud of the fact that she had had 24 staff under her at the school who had gone on to become principals or assistant principals, including Gary Rolfe at Cranbourne Primary School and Russell Gascoigne at Lynbrook Primary School.
“It’s important to me to give them opportunities to fulfil their career aspirations,” she said.
Another teacher at Courtenay Gardens, David Hess, celebrated 38 years in the Education Department. Mr Hess had retired and then returned to teaching.
