End of a stellar teaching career
Mark Charlesworth says he will be sad to say goodbye to a profession he has enjoyed for 34 years.
The Waroona District High School principal has spent the past 11 years of an eventful career at Waroona and is the longest serving principal at the school.
He says there are two coincidences associated with his career that are quite uncanny.
“I started my education at a district high school in Dalwallinu and am ending my career in education at a district high school, ” Mr Charlesworth said
“Prior to taking up teaching I worked in private enterprise for six years and my last job was as a surveyor at the Wagerup Refinery just down the road and I am finishing up my job as a teacher here as well.”
Mr Charlesworth started teaching at Hampton Senior High School before moving to Harvey as acting head of mathematics.
His first head of department job was at Kambalda Senior High School.
In the Goldfields he became education officer and was second in charge to the district superintendent.
He then transferred to Coodanup Senior High School where he ended up as acting principal before getting the job at Waroona.
In addition Mr Charlesworth was an active member of the Mathematics Association, contributing as editor and compiler to a series of mathematics books published by the association and still being used in WA schools. He was also a member of the Mathematics Syllabus Committee for six years and did a stint as a consultant in mathematics and as a curriculum consultant.
During his 11 years at Waroona he has also had other roles. He managed the SCOPE project in Mandurah as a consultant for 18 months and was acting principal at Comet Bay College when it was transitioning from a middle to a senior school. He has also been the Network Principal for the Murray-Waroona Schools Network for the past two years.
He sees his achievements at Waroona in terms of how he has worked to change the school culture and its environment.
“I feel that I have been able to connect with people,” Mr Charlesworth said.
“I have great faith in the ability of our parents to help support the learning of their children.
“I have always been an advocate for those less fortunate who need specific help to engage in education.”
Mr Charlesworth said he had tried hard to engage with the community and parents to build positive relationships.
“I have been a part of significant change at this school, overseeing major changes to the physical environment including, upgrading facilities and grounds improvements.”
