When classes resume at Port Fairy Consolidated School next term, there will be a new leader at its helm.
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Kath Tanner, the current Lismore Primary School acting principal, will take over from Mark Chapman, who has resigned to pursue a career in adolescent mental health and well-being.
School council president Brendan Condon informed the school community of Mrs Tanner’s appointment in a newsletter on June 1.
Mr Condon said the interview panel was impressed with Mrs Tanner’s “obvious enthusiasm and drive to maximise every child’s achievements, her extensive educational and leadership training and her transfer of that theoretical knowledge into successful practical programs within her school community.”
Mr Condon said the school council looked forward to having Mrs Turner’s emphasis on positive education and building excellence, motivating the school community to build on its existing strengths and “helping us all take the school to even greater achievements.”
The mother-of-four completed most of her schooling at Mortlake College, attended university at Ballarat and worked as a shared music specialist teacher at five schools around Mildura before returning to Mortlake.
Mrs Tanner has worked at Mortlake P-12 school for 20 years, teaching mainly music.
About eight years ago, Mrs Tanner decided to move into leadership and studied a Bastow Institute course and a Masters of School Leadership at Melbourne University.
She returned to Mortlake P-12 where she was the year prep to four sub-school leader for five years, before becoming Lismore’s acting principal, a role she’s held for six months.
“I’ve absolutely loved the time I’ve had at Lismore and all the things I’ve done here have enabled me to have the confidence to apply for the Port Fairy job,”she said.
“They’ve been very closely linked. It’s going to be very hard to say goodbye to both schools.
Mrs Tanner said she loved developing positive relationships with students, parents and staff in the leadership role.
"I like to be able to influence the impact that we can have in schools. I feel like when you’re a leader you can influence decision making to be able to achieve better outcomes.”
She said the consolidated school had a "really nice positive vibe" and had a good reputation within the network of schools.
Its seaside location was another drawcard.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity. I can’t wait to start,” Mrs Tanner said.
