PEOPLE
CAREER PATH
THE HEALTH & WELLBEING ADVOCATE
Loretta Piazza, principal of Meadowglen Primary School, is more than your average principal; she is a powerful voice for principal health and wellbeing LATE
1988
A PROMOTION SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD
1970S TEACHING CAREER COMMENCES
Piazza begins her teaching career at Ruthven Primary School in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, along with eight graduates from Coburg Teachers College. “I’m not sure how effective I was as a teacher, but I loved turning up every day and having fun with the kids!”
2000
Piazza is promoted to a ‘Band 2’ position at Thomastown Meadows. “This was the turning point in my career; my principal, Charlie O’Connor, encouraged me to aim for the principalship”
FIRST SENIOR APPOINTMENT – AND FRESH CHALLENGES In 1999, Piazza completed her Graduate Diploma and Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the University of Melbourne. Her first principal appointment was at Pascoe Vale North Primary School. As the only female principal in the Coburg-Pascoe network, she felt the pressure to prove herself.
“The males had a smooth, calm style, and I soon learned that I could relax without compromising the high expectations I had of myself and others” 2013
FURTHER EDUCATION – AND A TRAGIC LOSS
Piazza and her friend and fellow principal colleague, Mark Thompson, completed a Doctor of Education degree at the University of Melbourne. She says it was their unique friendship that enabled them to survive this long and arduous eight-year journey. “When Mark took his own life due to work-related issues in December 2014, it rocked the whole education community”
2015
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON NEGLECTED AREA
Thompson and Piazza had continued researching the career aspirations of assistant principals, and when their paper was published following Mark Thompson’s death it gained enormous media attention. “We had found that assistant principals were not applying for principal jobs due to the lack of support from the Education Department and high levels of stress associated with the job. The co-author took his own life due to lack of support and high levels of stress associated with the job. The irony was not lost”
2004
LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE HONED Piazza says her move to Meadowglen Primary School is when she “morphed into the leader I am today”. Meadowglen, along with its 750 students and tough clientele, posed enormous challenges. “Thirteen years later, thanks to a strong leadership team and dedicated staff, we have a school culture that is underpinned by order and high expectations”
PRESENT
PRINCIPAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING BECOMES A PRIORITY Piazza has today become a strong voice and advocate for principal health and wellbeing. She maintains links with the numerous University of Melbourne experts who have helped to build her research acumen, and she has developed an interest in the ‘positive psychology’ movement. “My current research project involves translating its philosophy into tangible classroom practice. When I achieve this, it might be my time to really start living life to the fullest!” www.educatoronline.com.au
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