Being a western Sydney school principal proves rewarding

Name: Kathleen Seto

Job title: Principal, Fairvale High School

What is a typical week like for you?
A typical week includes meetings, assemblies, telephone calls, attending to emails, reading, and implementing policy updates, providing academic advice to students and professional learning for staff human resource management, interviews with parents/carers, visits to classrooms and in between trying to have a cup of hot tea – it usually ends up cold!

How long have you been doing this job, and what first sparked your interest in this area?
I have been a principal for 15 years. Prior to my time at Fairvale High, I was deputy principal at Canley Vale High for eight years. I started teaching in New Zealand in 1981 and after moving to Australia, began secondary teaching in low socioeconomic-status schools in 1991.

My interest was sparked by my uncle Barry, who was a primary school principal in New Zealand. He was a kind and caring role model with a great connection and rapport with his extended family. He always engaged with us, and never spoke down to us.

What do you like most about the job?
That every day I am making a difference. Education is the pathway to open so many doors of opportunity and I have seen this repeatedly during my teaching career as I’ve watched students progress to inspiring, meaningful careers. Interacting with teenagers has many joyful and humorous moments. I like being a leader who is responsive and supportive and have enjoyed my work in the low socioeconomic communities of Liverpool, Canley Vale and Fairfield. I am a big believer in moral authority rather than positional authority.

What was the most unexpected thing you have had to do in your job?
I once had to wrangle with a snake that slithered into a classroom from a nearby creek. The teacher in the class was petrified and fled the classroom, so a student came running to my office to seek help. With the assistance of the general assistant, we managed to evacuate the class to safety.

How transferable are your skills?
If I was going to have another career, I would be a detective. Many of the skills you develop as a teacher, head teacher and senior executive member are transferable. For example, solving mysteries of misdemeanours, problem-solving, interviewing people and conflict resolution.