By Bonny Burrows
Cockatoo Primary School principal Darrelyn Boucher says she never had a calling to be a teacher.
But when she was granted a studentship by the government, which paid her to go to teacher’s college, she decided to give it a go.
“And from the minute I had my first teaching practicum, I knew it was the job for me,” Ms Boucher said.
Ms Boucher’s 40-year career has come full circle, starting and ending at Cockatoo Primary School.
She began at the school in the 1970s as a fresh faced teacher who shared a love of ABBA and a class cat with her students.
“I didn’t even know where Cockatoo was, but here I was starting at this very, very tiny school of 120 students,” Ms Boucher said.
“It was a very rural community and the kids were real country kids. They’d come to school with mud on their boots.”
She described her first year teaching as “a really good year” in a fun school with young staff members.
Despite her love of Cockatoo Primary School, the next year saw Ms Boucher move to Croydon Primary School after purchasing land in the area.
She taught at the Croydon and Silverton Primary School in Noble Park until 1986, when “fate” drew her back to Cockatoo.
“We had bought land in Emerald so I applied to all the local schools but got the job here,” Ms Boucher said.
“It must have been meant to be. I’m a great believer in fate.”
Since her return to Cockatoo Primary School, and despite a six-year hiatus during which she took family leave, Ms Boucher has risen up the ranks from teacher to assistant principal to now-principal.
However, Ms Boucher said the move from teaching to leading required a big push from her colleagues.
“Two years after returning from family leave, the assistant principal retired and I stepped up,” she said.
“I had a lot of pressure from staff to apply, but I didn’t want to leave the classroom.”
She eventually “gave in” and took the job, but the school had other plans.
Shortly after commencing her assistant principal role her boss came in and said he was having a hip replacement, followed by six months off and then he was retiring.
“He said ‘you’re going to be acting principal’. I laughed,” Ms Boucher said.
But aware Ms Boucher would likely decline the position, he had made prior arrangements.
“He pulled out a letter from behind his back and said ‘too late, I’ve got the region’s approval’,” Ms Boucher said.
“Twenty-one years later and I’m still here.”
Despite her apprehension in making the move from the classroom to the top job, Ms Boucher wouldn’t have it any other way.
She’s found a way to balance her love of both roles, thanks in part to the school’s close knit community and supportive teaching staff.
“I love getting into the classroom, but I also love the work I do,” Ms Boucher said.
“I still have a great connection to the kids. I make an effort to make sure I know who my kids are. I really value that, having that connection with our kids.”
The principal was one of three local educators recently acknowledge by the Department of Education for four decades of service.
While Ms Boucher “doesn’t like fuss”, she said she was pleased with the recognition of her hard work.
“It was nice to be recognised and my family was very proud,” she said.
Despite reaching the milestone, Ms Boucher shows no signs of slowing down.
When asked if retirement was on the cards, Ms Boucher said it was not something she had planned.
“I’m not thinking in that way because I’m always thinking about what I can do next for the school,” Ms Boucher said.
“This place is the blood that courses through my veins.”
