Growing up I always wanted to become either a Nurse or a Teacher. Both professions have responsibility, nurturing and care at their heart and each has the potential to make a profound difference in the lives of thousands of individuals over a professional lifetime. I have never regretted my final decision to pursue a career in education and I leave the education profession this year full of wonderful memories of the lessons I provided, the lessons that were provided to me and the lessons I take forward into my next exciting chapter of life beyond work. Throughout my career I have been privileged to positively influence thousands of students, countless members of staff and a range of educational institutions in one way or another. 

Over the past 12 months, amongst the busyness of my role as Principal of Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School, I have disciplined myself in my final professional year, to take extra notice of each day; the individuals within the community and the ebbs and flows of school life. 

I have ensured that I have not taken every experience in my final 12 months for granted and I have often dwelt in quieter times on the delight and challenge of working in a school today and how it compared to when I first commenced teaching in 1981.

My first paid role commenced even before I graduated with my teaching degree from Melbourne University. I was given provisional registration to teach Mathematics and Science for a term at a local Technical School, as the school had difficulty retaining teachers. I have never forgotten the challenges those students experienced just living day to day, let alone attending school to learn and ultimately to progress in life. My short but eye-opening term, as a young 20-year-old provisional teacher, has always stayed with me and fed my drive to always make a difference in the lives of young people.

As the years went by and I moved through my career, I never lost the strong belief that quality teaching matters, it really matters to every student in every school and it really makes a profound difference in the lives of the children at the time and well into their futures. There are many names and faces we will forget as we age, but I am sure all of us, regardless of our age, remember the names and faces of at least one special teacher who made a difference in our lives.

Great teaching is a profession that comes from the heart, it involves great intellect as well as great stamina, dedication and empathy. Thank you to all of my academic and non-academic colleagues, current and former students, current and former parents and volunteers who have all enriched my professional life and supported and encouraged me along the way. I will miss you all and will think of you often.

Dr Deborah Priest
Principal