Long gone are the days of school principals being a frightening figure you got sent to see when in trouble.
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Principals play a wide and important role when it comes to all things involved with education.
They are also that crucial link between the school and the wider community.
The Ulladulla region is lucky to have many great principals and we decided it was time to meet them.
So come with us as we meet the local principals in alphabetical order.
We start with Kathryn McCrorey from Budawang SSP
Principal Kathryn McCrorey
How long have you been at your current school?
"20 months
What other schools have you taught at?
The Crescent School - Teacher - Assistant Principal - Relieving and Acting Principal
Queanbeyan/Batemans Bay District - Itinerant Support Teacher - Early Intervention
Murrurundi Public School - Teacher
What do you enjoy most about being a principal?
I am really passionate about working as a Principal in a School for Specific Purposes. Working with such special children is extremely rewarding. The student's achievements mean so much to all the staff at Budawang, we are always proud of our students and feel privileged to share in their learning journey with their parents.
I am extremely excited and grateful to be able to work alongside staff who are so compassionate and dedicated to improving the lives of young people with disabilities. I really enjoy collaboratively leading such a dynamic and talented team of people, as I know that this means that we make a greater impact on the lives of our students.
What makes your school so special?
"Budawang SSP is special because we work with students who often have complex and significant learning needs and because of this we need to work closely with parents and therapists to provide appropriate personalised educational and support programs to ensure our students learn and develop each year. Our aim at Budawang is to provide our students with the lifelong skills they need to be able to meaningfully participate and engage in their community.
How long have you been an educator?
26 years
What are the types of issues students face these days?
Students at our school often face very different issues to those at mainstream schools.
The issues that come to mind for our students are:
- Communication - the ability for our students to communicate their basic needs and wants to others
- Social skills and emotional regulation- the ability for our students to regulate their emotions and interact with others in a socially appropriate manner.
- Sensory Processing issues - often our students have difficulty filtering the sensory input in the environment which can have an enormous impact on their ability to regulate their behaviour and been in a zone that is conducive to learning.
- Mental Health and trauma - this is an increasing issue that is currently impacting the whole educational sector."
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths, science, biology and genetics and history."