Executive Director’s Update to Principals #36 - 26 July 2023
Announcement of Retirement - Inez French
I write to inform you that Mrs Inez French has indicated her intention to resign as Principal of St Mary’s Primary School, Clarkes Hill. Inez’s principalship will conclude at the end of the 2023 school year when she will commence a very well-deserved retirement.
Inez has ministered in Catholic Education in the Ballarat Diocese since 1982. During this time, she has served the communities of St Thomas’ Terang, St Patrick’s Ballarat, St James Sebastopol, Lumen Christi Delacombe, St Mary’s Clarkes Hill and St Brendan’s Dunnstown as an educator and leader. She began her time in principalship in Term 2, 2020 as dual interim Principal at St Mary’s, Clarkes Hill and St Brendan’s, Dunnstown and was appointed as Principal in 2021.
Inez has served as Principal in a professional and generous manner. She has shown outstanding leadership, leading with great empathy, kindness and skill. These traits have been especially visible as she guided both school communities during the challenges of the pandemic. She has been instrumental in supporting the staff she works with to be effective and collaborative educators, with her focus always on the learning and wellbeing needs of the students in her care. The capable staff and dedicated teachers will continue to provide your children with a high-quality education and a nurturing environment.
Inez’s decision to move into retirement comes at a time when St Mary’s is looking to a bright future, with stable enrolments and a new Strategic Plan following the recent validation and review process. The school has a great deal to celebrate, solid foundations for improvement and identified priorities which will support the new Principal in their leadership.
We thank Inez’s family for the support that they have provided to enable her to fill this critical role. Our wider education community is grateful for her contribution and wish her every blessing for the next stage in her life journey.
To support the transition to the next Principal of St Mary’s, consultation and advertising for a replacement will commence on Monday 31 July. The successful Principal will begin at the start of the 2024 school year. As with all that Inez has done, she will generously work to ensure a smooth transition for the successful applicant at the commencement of 2024.
As Executive Director of Catholic Education Ballarat, I offer my congratulations and gratitude to Inez for her wonderful contribution.