Staff and students at Eglinton Public School farewelled their beloved principal as he heads to Tamworth to commence a two-year secondment as a principal leadership officer.

Since his teaching career began in 1982, he has given his heart and soul to regional schools across the state, and also in Darwin.

“The word that comes to mind is privilege ... it’s the privilege of seeing children reaching their potential,” he said.

Over the years he said his greatest achievement has been to see the growth of the school.

When he started with Eglinton Public School there were 300 students – since then it has grown to be the largest public school in Bathurst with 500 students.

“A highlight is seeing the school grow from a small school to what it is today,” he said. “It’s involved a massive amount of infrastructure and about one new teacher every year.”

Mentoring graduate teachers through their first years and “watching them blossom” has been another highlight of Mr Small’s years at Eglinton.

Mr Small said he is looking forward to new challenges.

His new role will see him guiding and supporting other principals across the north-western NSW to bring out the best in them and their schools.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share what I know works so well in 

collaborative teaching and mentoring with principals and aspiring principals,” he said.

“We sit in support of the great work directors across the schools are doing.”

He made the announcement of his impending departure to his beloved school through a recent newsletter.

“I will certainly miss your great support and energy and I am immensely proud of the Ego staff for the amazing work they do,” he wrote.

Mr Small credited the school’s P&C with running successful programs in and out of class time that allow him to get on with running the school.

“Not only do they [parents] expect their children to be engaged, but as a parent they get behind the school,” he said.

“The P&C will be standing right there beside you with sport, country fairs, two band programs, out-of-hours school care, canteen, garden club and a uniform shop.

“They’re here on mass daily to assist with our home reader program.

“What we end up with is the teachers can focus on quality teaching and not having to manage significant programs that enrich the students lives beyond the classroom.

“Teachers get to teach in innovative teaching practices, and the results are we have an above average attendance and zero significant behaviour issues.”

A success story over his decade of leading Eglinton Public is the school’s participation in the Bathurst Alliance that involves all nine public schools across the city.

Mr Small said the alliance brings many benefits to students and staff with shared curriculums, ideas and staff.

“At an alliance level we have nine principals, 250 staff and 2500 students,” he said. “I’m so much more influential as part of that group than I ever was on my own ... I’m not having to reinvent the wheel.”

While other school regions have alliances, one that works as “deeply” as the Bathurst Alliance is unusual.

Two years may seem like a long time, but Mr Small said the offer to return as principal of Eglinton Public School is still there after his secondment is completed.

In the meantime, he said there are many things he will miss about Eglinton.

“I’ll miss being able to wander through the playground and be connected to and care for our world,” he said. 

“It’s such a humbling privilege to be part of that, that to step away is like losing your right arm or saying goodbye to your family.”