A teacher with a PhD in English literature has been hired by Corowa High School as its new principal.
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Dr Joanne Bellette listed community engagement as her main goal moving forward into the new schooling year, which started on Tuesday.
“I want to find ways in which Corowa’s primary schools and high school could work together to create middle school opportunities by doing lessons with each other,” she said.
“For example, some of our senior students and staff could go to work in primary schools to build on their capacity around literacy and numeracy.
“Or primary school students could do some science lessons with senior students.
“Also, an administrator at the hospital has also raised the idea of art students going there to do murals.
“So it’s about working with different organisations in the community so they perceive the school as not just a place where kids go 9am to 3pm but as a part of the community.”
Born and raised in Yamba on the NSW far north coast, Dr Bellette read literature at the University of New England in Armidale but eventually chose to focus on teaching full-time.
She has been posted in Narrandera, Dorrigo and Toormina before she moved to Corowa with her two young children and husband, who is a nurse.
Dr Bellette has been in close talks with her new colleagues and predecessor Chris Johnston, who retired last year after 11 years at Corowa High School and an impressive 42-year teaching career.
“He has left an amazing legacy, and I’m keen to build on the strengths which clearly exist in the school and find some new avenues to challenge and extend our students,” she said.
“You have to have a big picture, you can’t just wander into a school and think I’ll do whatever.”
Albury MLA Greg Aplin wished Dr Bellette good luck, and said a good principal was critical to a school’s success.
“Ultimately, they are responsible for the learning and wellbeing of all students and school staff,” he said.
“Starting a new role is an especially exciting time, and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Dr Bellette. I have no doubt she will bring fresh and innovative ideas to her new school.
“Public education has undergone significant reform in NSW over the past six years and I look forward to seeing how the new leadership will continue to build on the positive work of her predecessors. “
The NSW government spent $20 million on raising the salaries of principals and providing mentors for first-year principals under new changes introduced in 2015.
