The 2024 school year is in full swing across South Australia's public schools and students are settling in to their learning routines.

A new year often brings new staff and, in some cases, new principals.

Here seven new school leaders give us an insight into their teaching careers, likes and dislikes, and hopes and challenges for the year ahead.

Murray Bridge South Primary School

Name: Michelle Shepherd 

Previous experience: I have worked as a teacher in both country and metro schools. Over the past few years, I have held leadership positions at Highgate School and Murray Bridge South Primary School, covering both curriculum and student wellbeing.

Looking forward to: I am most looking forward to working with our school community, building upon our great achievements over recent years and extending the opportunities of our wonderful students, now and in the years beyond their schooling.

Biggest challenge for 2024: With the privilege of becoming principal, I am sure many challenges lie ahead. My initial challenge will be seeing the site through a different lens.

Likes: Hot chips, camping and spending time with family and my three dogs (even when they chew my furniture - my dogs that is).

Dislikes: Lateness and winter.

Athelstone School

Name: Kirsty Brumby

Previous experience: I have worked in several schools across the northern and north-eastern suburbs, providing support to students and teaching preschool to senior high school years. My professional background includes leadership in curriculum development, wellbeing, inclusion, disabilities and most recently, in the role of deputy principal.

Looking forward to: Athelstone School has serene grounds, an inclusive community and wonderful teachers who I am looking forward to leading and working alongside to foster a culture that prioritises both teacher and student agency. We have a new, passionate leadership team who are excited to partner with staff and the community to ensure the success of each student and the whole school community.

Biggest challenge for 2024: Finding the right balance of honouring and acknowledging the successful journey that has shaped Athelstone as a high-quality school, while also driving adaptability and new ways of thinking to promote innovative curriculum and a strong commitment to wellbeing.

Likes: Connecting and having fun with students, spending time with my family, travelling and the beach.

Dislikes: When adults hold expectations of children that they would not impose upon themselves or other adults. Mosquitos.

Brinkworth Primary and Early Childhood Centre

Name: Caitlin McDaid

Previous experience: I have worked as a primary school teacher for close to 20 years, including three years in Canberra. In recent years I’ve taught at Plympton International College, obtaining several acting leadership positions before becoming Director of Primary. Last year saw my first acting principal position at Springton Primary in Term Three, before becoming the principal at Brinkworth Primary and Early Childhood Centre.

Looking forward to: Immersing myself within the Brinkworth community, as well as the Clare community where I have recently moved to. Building on the learning at Brinkworth and establishing a more community-based school. It’s the school’s 50-year anniversary this year, and strangely enough it is also my 50^th in March. We are the same age!

Biggest challenge for 2024: Preschool and the Early Years Framework is new learning for me. Learning all the processes and responsibilities of the role and maintaining a positive work-life balance. The Department's support through its education director, principal consultant, wellbeing coach and various professional development opportunities is outstanding.

Likes: Spending time with family and friends, entertaining at home. Reading and seeing live music. The beach and walks with friends is therapy for my soul. Enjoy the moments.

Dislikes: Negativity, people taking life too seriously, littering.

Murputja Anangu School

Name: Ilyasi S. Siraji

Previous experience: I have two years’ experience as deputy principal at Mimili Anangu with a focus on teaching and learning. Prior to leadership, I had varied teaching experience across South Australia’s public and Catholic sectors, working at Fregon Anangu School, Adelaide Secondary School of English and Thebarton Senior College.

Looking forward to: I wholeheartedly look forward to working collaboratively with our school’s small staff and the wider community to pull together in making sure our Anangu students thrive in their school life. On a personal note, I’m excited about working with peers who have extensive knowledge of leading schools in remote Aboriginal schools across this vast continent.

Biggest challenge for 2024: This marks our sixth year living and working on the APY Lands. Living this remote (nearly 1600km away from Adelaide) is a constant challenge, but the most significant one is to keep innovating different ways of teaching and learning to better engage Anangu students.

Likes: When I learn a new Pitjantjatjara or Yankuntjatjarra word and use it in context. Equally enjoyable is attempting to use it, making a mistake, and then being corrected by one of my students.

Port Augusta West Primary School

Name: Sarah Bury

Previous experience: I have 22 years of experience in teaching and various leadership roles at Quorn Area School, including primary and secondary coordinator, deputy principal and student wellbeing leader.

Looking forward to: Working with new staff, students and the community to further build a culture of collaboration and develop a shared vision and mission for the next five years.

Biggest challenge for 2024: Understanding that I may not have the answer for all of the questions raised, however I will endeavour to make use of all of the people and resources around me to find the answers. Managing my time and ensuring that I prioritise tasks.

Likes: Sports, gardening, spending time with family and socialising with friends.

Dislikes: Negative people. Good things happen when you distance yourself from negative people.

The Grove Education Centre

Name: Rachel Scheuboeck

Previous experience: I have been teaching for 30 years with 25 years focused on supporting students with additional needs. During this time, I have held roles in school leadership and also a number of positions within the department’s Student Support Services team. My passion is in supporting students with additional needs to reach their full potential and I have completed my Masters in Special Education.

Looking forward to: I am excited about leading a vibrant school in continuing their goal to support the learning of all students. I look forward to working closely with staff, students and families, to support and build a strong school community. As a new principal I look forward to honing my skills in leading teaching and learning and providing support to the staff.

Biggest challenge in 2024: I am sure there will be many challenges and new learning this year to provide the quality of leadership my site deserves. Despite this I am confident that with the amazing Grove staff and local partnership supports, I will never have to face these challenges alone.

Likes: Connecting with staff, students and families. Personally, I love spending time with family and friends and tapping into creative ventures.

Dislikes: Negativity.

Burton Primary School

Name: Kaylem Short

Previous experience: I began my teaching career in the UK in 2012. In 2015 I moved to South Australia and in early 2016 I began as a relief teacher in the Adelaide Hills. From 2016 to 2020, I was an educator at Mount Barker South Primary School, where I started as a teacher and left as the Senior Leader in Mathematics. Between 2020 and 2024, I held different leadership roles at Ingle Farm Primary School.

Looking forward to: Building new relationships with, and working alongside staff, students and families to continue to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for the students at Burton Primary School. I will particularly enjoy leading the growth of a different cohort of staff and students and becoming a trusted member of a new community.

Biggest challenge for 2024: Being an effective leader of learning while establishing strong relationships with a new school community and undertaking a role I haven't had before.

Likes: Hanging out with my family, summer, football (soccer), health and fitness, and cricket

Dislikes: Football being called soccer, the rain and waiting for anything.