November 2009 Vol. 1, Issue 10 (PDF - 16.2Mb) - Department of ...

32 Nov 09
Regional Network Leaders
questions for
Jan Rollinson
Enjoying the great outdoors
on a bicycle is an ideal way to
unwind for Jan Rollinson, regional
network leader (RNL) for the
Colac/Corangamite network.
1. What do you think makes a good principal?
Basically, a glass half-full approach but not in a Pollyanna way, rather
a belief that you and your teachers are making a difference and that
you can always do better. Words such as solution-driven, persistent
and consistent, being a good listener, sense of humor, fire in the belly,
researcher and collegiate, come to mind.
My staff used to give a wry smile every time I said “disciplined and
rigorous”. I think I will add curious to the list.
2. When you were a student, who was your most
inspirational teacher?
I would rather tell you about a teacher who was a saint. In Grade 1,
I become ‘school phobic’: a polite term for a pain in the behind. I did
the whole kicking and screaming bit to get me to school. Even ran five
miles home – serious emergency management risk. To my teacher,
Judy Malone, who stuck by me – thank you. Strange how life turns
out, as I have gone on to spend every day of my working life within
schools, the very place that I wished to escape from. I sometimes
wonder about recurring symptoms on a Monday morning, but these
seem to pass by Friday.
3. What are you reading at
the moment?
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Insights
into a child who has been badly bullied and
the effects this has on relationships. It has a
great twist at the end!
4. What is your idea of the
perfect weekend?
My perfect weekend would have to include exercising with
friends. Just like the one I have just had, bike riding in the
Ballarat area.
5. What do you love to eat?
I love the summer for its fruits. Living in Shepparton for
many years has ensured that I know a good piece of fruit
when I see one.
6. What was your main
motivation for becoming
an RNL?
The positive experiences I had accrued through working beside
principals and teachers lead me to considering the RNL role. The
Corio/Norlane regeneration project is an exceptional system leadership
project that I was privileged to be part of. The three-year journey
(thus far) demonstrated how schools working together could create a
community response to address a very specific local need. At present,
not a brick has been laid, yet each of the eight schools has been
individually strengthened.
7. What were you doing prior to this role?
I taught for most of my career in the Hume region, where in 1995 I
moved into the principal class as assistant principal at Guthrie Street PS
in Shepparton and then later to Mansfield PS as principal. In 2002, I
shifted into the Barwon South West region to take up a principal role at
Corio West PS. These three strong learning communities allowed me to
grow and find my feet as a leader.
8. What are some of the key projects you’re
working on?
The Colac/Corangamite team is focusing on building leadership and
teacher capacity, specifically targeting literacy and numeracy knowledge.
Our network has two coaching projects, literacy, and teaching and
learning, in the Colac and Cobden/Camperdown districts. Recently we
have introduced an instructional leadership coach to work across seven
schools of our smaller schools.
9. What do you do to relax after work?
I relax by exercising, any kind and anywhere. In my
current role, where lots of driving is a necessity, I find
it harder and harder to fit exercise in. Memo to self –
project manage this!
10. What is your all-time
favourite movie?
Goodnight Mister Tom. This movie shows it is possible to
develop a rewarding relationship between the quite young
and the aged.