Meet Simone Higgins, Manager, Shepparton Regional Centre

Before joining the Academy, Simone Higgins was the principal of Grahamvale Primary School for the past 7 years. She has also been a member of the Urban Shepparton Network Executive, developing plans for professional learning to meet the goals and targets in the Annual Implementation Plan. Simone is looking forward to bringing teachers, leaders and system leaders together to access high-quality professional learning in the local area.

The best part of my job is…

Bringing high-quality professional learning to Shepparton! I love seeing teachers and leaders come together to learn and collaborate with each other to improve their practice. I also have the opportunity to facilitate some of the Academy’s programs, and enjoy talking with educators who are passionate about their role and what they do.

What education means to me…

Education is about learning. It is the opportunity for every one of us to learn and grow; socially, emotionally and academically. Some of my favourite quotes about education include:

‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’
Malcolm X

‘The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.’
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

One of my fondest memories from working in a school is…

There are so many wonderful memories that I have from my years working in schools, such as seeing the smile on a child’s face when they have achieved something they didn’t think they could do. As a principal, one of the best parts of my day was when a student visited with their work to share and talk about their learning with me.

The best place to get coffee near the Academy Shepparton centre is…

The Shepparton Art Museum, which is just a short walk away along the lake. The Milk Bar in town is another favourite.

My favourite subject at school was…

In primary school I loved maths as I was the times tables champion.

In secondary school my favourite subject was French. I completed Year 12 French and have been able to speak the language in my travels abroad.

A teacher who inspired me…

My head teacher who I worked with in London was truly an inspiration. Our school was an inclusive school and she taught us to not see the disability in our students, but the possibilities. She always put the needs of our students first and knew each student by name.

The programs I am most excited to offer local educators are…

Leading Quality Conversations: as a trained facilitator, I can deliver this incredible program. This is exciting as it provides participants with the opportunity to build self-awareness and reflect on the quality of conversations they have. To see participants build confidence in having challenging conversations is extremely rewarding.

My connection to the Greater Shepparton region started way back when…

I attended my primary and secondary schooling in the area. After teaching in London for 4.5 years I returned home and have been working in schools in and around Shepparton for the past 23 years as a teacher, Cluster Educator, Regional Coach and in principal roles.

What I think has improved over the years in Greater Shepparton is…

Greater Shepparton has changed over the years as our region has continued to grow and evolve. We are proud to be a culturally diverse community.

Find out more about the Shepparton centre here.