Tara Murray
Bobby Kotevski is the new principal of Parkwood Green Primary School in Hillside. He speaks with Tara Murray about his passion to teach and reasons why he decided to take on this new role.
What is your connection to the Hillside community?
I have a very strong connection to the west. I was born in the west, I live in the west and have a deep passion, commitment and drive to give back to the west. As mentioned above, I have taught in the Hillside community for almost 15 years and that deep connection to the families and the Hillside community is what I missed over the past seven years. So when this opportunity came up, I just had to go for it. I didn’t even have to think about it.
What is your teaching background and why did you want to become a teacher?
Over the past 21 years, I have dedicated my life to education through various roles such as a classroom teacher, specialist teacher, leading teacher, learning coach, welfare co-ordinator, assistant principal and principal. In each of my roles, I have sought to ensure the success of each student and the school, by providing the best instructional and extracurricular opportunities and support possible. I have worked in several schools over my career. I have taught at Taylors Lakes PS, Sydenham Hillside PS, Dinjerra PS (assistant principal), principal of Epping PS and now principal of Parkwood Green. I am thrilled to bring my skills as an educational leader and work with such an amazing school community equally as a partner to develop future success.
What do you love about the local community?
The more I work in the Hillside community, the more I love how caring and supportive our community is. I feel a huge sense of community here. The ‘family friendly’ atmosphere in the community and at Parkwood Green is so infectious.
What legacy are you looking to leave at the school in your term as principal?
I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead a school with such a rich tradition of education. As principal, my commitment is to work hard to continue the legacy of success established by past, current and future Parkwood Green staff by building strong relationships with our students, staff and our community partners. My goals are to ensure that we deliver a coherent and rich curriculum delivered by passionate teachers and leaders. I am committed to ensuring that student needs and interests help shape instruction and extracurricular opportunities. I bring a belief that students are at the centre of all school-related decisions and true success will come with us collectively creating a school environment that encourages collective responsibility, efficacy, respect and consultation. I have created an Instagram page to share all the wonderful things I do, see and learn as the proud principal of Parkwood Green Primary
School. You can find me on Instagram at: theparkwoodprin
