Principals back mentoring program
The final report card is not in on a pioneering principal mentoring program targeting low socio-economic schools in Perth.
But Majella Catholic Primary School principal Linda Bertolini does not need convincing after witnessing students' "phenomenal" gains. As students prepare to return to class next week, the next round of principals have signed on for the three-year Fogarty EDvance program.
Ms Bertolini said that she had no doubt improvements in the school were thanks to the program, the key plank of which is pairing principals with principal mentors from other schools.
"We've had kids make two or three-year gains in 12 months . . . and I'm sure it's because of the changes we've made," she said.
Westminster Junior Primary School principal Peter Mulcahy said the mentor relationships were critical to the program's success. "They're experienced, they understand the big picture and they're also brutally honest," he said. The program is backed by the Fogarty Foundation, the Department of Education and the Office of Catholic Education.
