THERE’S no doubt Loretta Hamilton is a great principal – she has nurtured 27 of her work colleagues to become heads of school themselves.
Now the Courtenay Gardens Primary School principal’s achievement has been recognised at a national level, winning the Australian Primary Principal of the Year Award last week.
She was presented with the award by Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth Peter Garrett at the Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership Ceremony held in Adelaide.
Ms Hamilton became the founding principal at Courtenay Gardens Primary School, in Cranbourne, 18 years ago.
The judges said that in the intervening years she had fostered a culture of high expectations and commitment to excellence among teachers and the school’s 700 students, many of whom were from challenging socio-economic backgrounds.
“Her ability to draw on her extensive professional experience has helped to create a lively school culture in which students feel they are supported and challenged,” the judges said.
“Using a distributive and collaborative leadership model which emphasises innovation, Loretta has led the implementation of a strong whole-of-school approach to literacy and numeracy, science and multi-media and makes contact with families a priority.”
It is a measure of Ms Hamilton’s professional influence that 27 of the teachers who worked with her have gone on to become principals, with an additional three as deputy principals.
Ms Hamilton and her staff have provided professional learning to about 2000 educators in four years.
She conducts weekly learning sessions facilitated by staff, contributes to departmental initiatives and creates multiple opportunities for staff to explore world’s best practice.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said Ms Hamilton was a deserving winner of this award due to her years of service and dedication to Courtney Gardens Primary School and the wider community.
“Teacher quality is the single greatest in-school influence on student engagement and achievement in the classroom,” he said.
“All Australian school students deserve access to a high-quality, high-equity education, no matter where they live, the school they attend or their personal circumstances.
“In the time Loretta has been a principal 27 of her work colleagues have become principals themselves which is a testament to her professionalism and work ethic.
“I thank Loretta for her many years of service and for her ongoing contribution to Courtney Gardens Primary School, the local community and my electorate of Holt.”
The winners for the awards were selected from a pool of 48 finalists nominated by Government, Catholic and Independent peak school education bodies in each state and territory.
