Southern Highlands Christian School principal Meg Story on her new role

Formerly the deputy principal of an independent school in Wollongong, this will be Ms Story's first time working as a principal.

"Being principal is not for everybody," Ms Story said.

READ MORE:

"I've got many teacher friends who would hate to ever be taken out of the classroom because it's a particular skillset and way of thinking, for someone who really enjoys strategic thinking."

However the leadership path allows for influence over the way that schools function and, according to Ms Story, the "why" behind what they do.

"To me, that's really exciting," she said.

"To have this kind of influence you have to follow this path and it's been absolutely amazing. It's more than I could have ever hoped it would be.

"I just feel like this is the job for me. There will be hard days and hard seasons but I feel like everything I've done has built me ready for this job. I've found my place."

Ms Story is the daughter of state school teachers and always thought she would work in the state system.

"But I've had so many amazing opportunities in the independent sector," she said.

She describes herself as a high school teacher by trade with a background in English and history.

"I really love teenagers. I love that you get to speak into their lives at a time when they're trying to work out who they are and the impact that they want to make on our world," Ms Story said.

"It's absolutely critical and high school teachers get an opportunity to walk that journey through six really massive years in a young adult's life.

"To see them grow and to walk with them as they make mistakes; and to assist them through that process, showing them how to own your own mistakes; seek forgiveness; offer forgiveness to others; and go through that restoration process of coming back together when we make mistakes, is such a beautiful thing."

Her goal is to do that in a school context that "hopefully" also instills in her students a love of learning.

"We want to send them out our doors ready to be amazing humans that are going to make a huge impact on the world," Ms Story said.

"To show them that life isn't just about 'me' it's about how I can serve others; how I can find purpose and meaning. The years that they spend here with us really shape that."

It's a privilege to "walk through" difficult times with students and their families, she says.

"When emotions are high and you can speak grace and love and care. In those moments I feel like this is really good work," Ms Story said.

"This is good work to put my hands to; this is impactful and purposeful. Being able to be there with someone and walk with them through difficult times is a privilege, and I feel that."

Of the unique challenges school face in 2023 Ms Story said that mental health ranked highest.

"The pandemic and lockdowns was really shattering," she said.

"The whole world was out of control; the pace, the routines, the sense of knowing what was happening next. Now we're seeing more and more children who are struggling with their mental health and not being able to access services to get the help they need."

Her job as a principal is to think about how the school can step into that gap in "more practical ways".

Since starting at the Southern Highland Christian School Ms Story's main goal has been to welcome the school community back.

ALSO READ: Oxley College celebrates new head Scott Bedingfield

"We really value our parent partnership here so to be able to verbally invite them and then physically go to them and say, 'please, come in'," she said.

"It is a very strange space to come back into and I'm hoping it becomes normal again really quickly."

Despite the previous principal, Andrew Middleton, being "beloved" the school has welcomed Ms Story with open arms.

"I was completely overwhelmed by the warm response of everybody here. That has been very much the tone of my arrival," Ms Story said.

"I'm really loving it, it's been the most amazing first term getting to know people and it feels very open and ready for a new season. People have been very kind and excited about me coming so you can't help but have the response of excitement to that."

The school is celebrating its 40^th anniversary later this year and has invited past students to share photos and stories of their experience via Facebook. For information phone the office on 48611 781.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:

Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular newsletters