Introducing Frances

Korowa's 10th Principal

What sparked your interest in the Principal role at Korowa?

First the School’s reputation for strong teaching and learning as well as for kindness. You often get one or the other, but not often both together. I found this intriguing. Secondly, all the people I met were so open, helpful, warm, funny and inspiring – I realised that I wanted to work in such an interesting place.

As Principal – what does your day typically look like?

I do not think I have a typical day. I know that my perfect day always involves seeing students and getting to interact with them. A typical day though always involves a lot of meetings and far too much time on my laptop sorting out emails and so on. I try to get out of my office every day and love it when I am invited to visit classrooms or different events so that I can see more and more of the students and of the School.

What is your vision for Korowa?

Having been at the School for only a little over a term, it is rather too early to say. However, I know that I want Korowa to continue to be kind and to continue to value learning. I also want to think about Korowa students being strong and resilient so that they are not defeated by setback, but rather spurred on to try again. How we develop this strength will be part of my vision for Korowa.

In the short time you have been here, what do you love about Korowa?

It is truly the most welcoming, kind and helpful place I have ever worked. When people say to me the community at Korowa is special, I can only concur and say “Yes, it is!”

You have moved from Sydney to Melbourne – tell me what you love about Melbourne so far?

Well, I have to say, not the weather! Everyone tells me that the spring and early summer were very unusual! But apart from the weather, I love the fact that it is easy to walk everywhere, that the trams are so frequent and so useful, that the food and drink is so amazing. I am looking forward to discovering more of Melbourne’s cultural life as I settle into the city.

Do you have an AFL team yet? Which team? Why?

This is very difficult. No matter which team I support, I have a feeling I am going to upset someone. So, I have decided I can only support my old home town: the Sydney Swans!

Surprising Facts About You

I love cooking and have an entire bookcase filled with cookery books. I will have a go at cooking most things, but I do enjoy baking very much.

I went to 11 schools in four countries. I do not think I enjoyed school very much at all … in fact I think this is why I became a teacher. I wanted to make the schools I work in better, kinder, friendlier than the schools I went to.

I have my own stationery cupboard at home! I love stationery and will cheerfully spend far too much time in Milligram or Officeworks, or anywhere that I can buy a post-it note or an interesting pen.