From pulling a child from an overturned car to listening to kids’ stories, primary school principal Michael Hopley never knows what’s going to happen next.
I’m the Principal of Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School at Greystanes. There are no typical weeks for me. The assistant principal and I often joke that “you never know what’s going to happen next”. Generally, I listen to stories – everyone has a story. Kindergartens’ are always the best because they’re told with such gusto, spontaneity, and fun. Teacher stories range from concern to jubilation when a child achieves their potential.
There are some significant strategies that can be applied to difficult situations that help with defusing them. I suppose many of these strategies would be employed by counsellors and psychologists with patients. In any significant encounter, it’s important to hold on to your beliefs, listen and acknowledge a person’s concerns, remain transparent as much as possible and don’t rely on always having the answers.
What advice do you have for people wanting to get into a career related to your skills and experience? For anyone wanting to be a teacher or leader in schools, the most obvious skills are patience and understanding. The ability to identify needs, plan for sequential development, and evaluate and re-evaluate your teaching and learning program are all important skills. Resilience has become a key trait for teachers and the conscious understanding of our own wellbeing, particularly through work-life balance, is an essential ingredient for a successful teaching career.
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