Among the new faces at Nottawasaga Creemore Public School this week is principal Alison Golding.
Golding comes to Creemore from Alliston Union Public School where she was vice principal.
She said she looks forward to learning about the school and broader community in her role as principal.
“I like to be in the classroom,” said Golding. “I consider myself a co-learner, learning alongside teachers and students.”
A teacher since 2001, Golding, who has a music degree, started out as a music teacher but ended up teaching special education in all grades.
Golding said she first enrolled in the courses necessary to become a principal thinking the knowledge would apply to her work in the classroom, not necessarily intending to move into administration.
“When I started getting into the conversations more deeply, it made me want to become an administrator and make a difference on a different level,” she said.
Golding said she has developed an interest in technology and its applications in education.
She hopes to bring technological initiatives with which she has had some success at past schools to NCPS, such as producing morning announcements as videos that are posted online and launching a student led technology team that would see students responding to help desk tickets and teaching staff about technological tools – such as Google docs – that could be used in class.
She is active on social media, including Facebook and Twitter (@ncpscreemore) and sees it as an important communication tool.
She said the school is a hub in the community and it is important to share what’s going on.
Golding is also encouraging people who want to form partnerships to get in touch.
“I am really looking forward to being here,” she said. “It’s a lovely little community and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone. My door is open.”