What do you love most about your job?
I love that working in education no two days are ever the same! My role involves curriculum development which is very rewarding and something I am really passionate about. I have loved visiting other schools and researching evidence-based practices to help design the curriculum at QPS. The big reward is then seeing it enacted in classrooms by our teachers and education support and the ‘light bulb learning’ moments for our students. I love getting into classrooms to work with and alongside our teachers and students.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have an obsession with vinyl and Cricutting! Although anyone who has ever received a gift from me is probably aware!
What classes did you teach before becoming principal?
Before I became an Assistant Principal I have taught every year level. As a casual relief teacher, I have also taught art, physical education and Indonesian.
Looking back at when you first entered your current role, what advice would you have given yourself?
That having a big picture vision for the school is essential but know that it will take time. Being part of opening a new school is exciting but comes with challenges and there are so many elements to it. There are some planning and implementation aspects of a new school that happen quickly and others that we are still working on now nearly six months in. Creating the library and building up our resources will take a year or more to establish but we just need to keep reminding ourselves to not worry as it will happen and we will have the school we envisaged even before the school was open.
What has been your most memorable moment?
The moment we opened the gates for the first time and welcomed our students and families to Quarters Primary School. It was so exciting putting faces to the names we had been reading for months and seeing all of our learners coming together for the first time and dressed in the uniform we had only seen on mannequins.
What subject did you enjoy at school?
I really loved English. I particularly liked writing and also a bit of debating.
Which five dinner guests, dead or alive would you invite to dinner?
My mum, John Farnham, Michael McIntyre, Graham Norton and Adele.
If you had to compete on Masterchef, what dish would you cook?
I think probably rice and curry. My mum taught me to cook rice and curry and it’s now a favourite for my family. So many of our family events have involved delicious rice and curry dishes.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
Anywhere that has beautiful warm weather! I love going to Bali with my husband and children. I also went to Sri Lanka with my mum, dad and brother, which was an amazing experience. Sri Lanka is such a beautiful country to visit.
What has been your biggest achievement?
That’s really difficult to answer as I have had achievements in different areas of my life but I would probably have to say becoming a mum. Bringing up Aidan and Olivia to be considerate and kind young adults has been the most rewarding and challenging achievement to date.
What encouraged you to become a teacher?
I think I was genetically hard-wired to be a teacher. Both of my parents were teachers. My grandparents were teachers in Sri Lanka and continued teaching when they migrated to Australia. Five of my aunts and uncles were also teachers and now the next generation of my brother and some cousins have followed suit.
What were you like as a kid?
As a kid I loved playing with my friends and I hated getting into trouble. I was persistent as I found some learning at school difficult; especially Maths. I remember being outside a lot. We loved putting sandpaper in our bike spokes so it sounded like a motor bike, playing forty forty and I loved playing netball, which was something I continued as an adult.
Did you always want to become a teacher or was there another career you considered?
I began my working life working in the disability field. I worked in residential care and adult training and support for more than 10 years before going back to uni as a mature age student to become a teacher.
