Dubbo educator Renee Matheson brings more than a quarter of a century of skill and experience to the role of acting principal at the growing local independent school, the Central West Leadership Academy.

Appointed for a 12-month term at the K-12 non-denominational school while incumbent Mandi Randell is on leave, Renee has been warmly welcomed and is busy building connections.

“My role as a leader is to build those relationships with people at the school, with the staff, the students and the parents,” she told the Dubbo Photo News.

“The Leadership Academy is also part of a multicultural community, so building relationships with our cultural groups as well as [academy] board relationships,” she added.

Formerly the long-term principal at St Augustine’s Parish School in Narromine, Renee sees the role at the Leadership Academy as a wonderful development opportunity that gives her valuable exposure to secondary education.

“All my learning and teaching has been in primary schools, but I’ve never worked in secondary [before],” she explained.

Renee was offered a teaching role at the Leadership Academy last year while completing postgraduate psychology studies and working in the NSW public school system. When the relieving opportunity became available, she decided to “throw my hat into the ring.”

With postgraduate qualifications in Educational Leadership and psychology, over 20 years teaching in the Catholic education system and a year in the NSW public school system before moving into independent education at the Leadership Academy, Renee brings a wealth of experience to the role.

She is busy formalising organisational structures, embedding practices, and getting to know her staff and students at the small but growing independent school.

The Leadership Academy is one of 29 schools in the state – and the only one in Dubbo – offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Program as an alternative to the NSW Higher School Certificate. The school, at all levels, focuses on developing critical thinking and learning in students.

Now in its eighth year and currently with 163 students, the Leadership Academy aims to grow student numbers to 300 over the next five to six years, Renee said.

One myth about the Leadership Academy that Renee would like to dispel is the misconception that it is a school “only for gifted students”.

“There is no exclusivity at our school. We’re very inclusive,” Renee said.

“We're small and safe, and we also provide individualised programs for all our students. It's really important that each student at our school is supported by all the teachers,” she added.

Renee says teaching is a very rewarding career, but also challenging.

“I just find that there are more rewards than challenges,” she concluded.