AN INSPIRATION
Principal Erica knows all about school of hard knocks
DROPOUT TURNED PRINCIPAL HELPING KIDS SHE’S WORKING WITH TROUBLED STUDENTS
A HIGH school dropout at 15, married at 17, a mother by 18.
When Erica Prosser says she knows how to handle kids who have been lost in mainstream schooling, it is clear she is probably right. She was one of those kids.
The Holy Spirit College principal took on leadership of the school’s Manoora and Cooktown campuses when they opened in 2015, providing spots for more than 70 disengaged young people.
But the road to school leader was unlike most.
After moving from rural Elliston in South Australia to Adelaide at seven, the secondyoungest of seven children began to shut off.
“There was domestic violence but more the psychological and emotional stuff and everything that went with that,” she said.
“I was the middle child (of the youngest three) so I flew under the radar and remained invisible. It was a coping mechanism. In high school I probably had an attendance rate of 30 to 40 per cent.”
Working a property with her first husband provided skills as a wool classer and truck driver, until a chance conversation with the counsellor at her children’s school changed her life forever.
“They asked me if I’d ever thought about doing Year 12. So my daughter was in Year 11 and my son was in Year 9 when I was in Year 12,” Ms Prosser recalled.
“That year was the end of my marriage though.”
She lost her job as an administration worker after a back injury. It was then her partner and later husband John Prosser suggested she go to university. Ms Prosser’s new life was laid out before her.
The new teaching graduate, aged 41, deliberately picked “hard schools” for the challenge and taught in remote Norther Territory and Western Australian schools before heading to Cairns.
“I was surfing the net looking for something else and found this ad talking about Holy Spirit College and the school they were envisaging.
“I clicked for more information and at that stage the freight train took off out of the station with me on it.”
She freely shares her experience with students.
“If I hadn’t had that background I wouldn’t be able to do what I do here with these kids.
“I can say to kids I’ve done stuff and achieved what I wanted to achieve through my way of working.
“I’m not sure we’ve got a number one reason for their behaviours.
“Some of the young people talk about being bullied at school because they’re different, then they come to our school and realise everyone’s different. We see that as a good thing.”
The school has a high tolerance for bad behaviour.
Children are not expelled, teachers get to know the small group on a “deeper level” and solve problems through “lots of talking”.
The unconventional approach seems to be working.
“What we see in all the kids over a short period of time is they start to see some hope,” Ms Prosser said.
“I love that they take up the opportunity we offer. The measure of success we use is the kids reaching their own goals.”
At 63, Ms Prosser has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I love what I do and I have fun with the staff and the kids. My thing is, if you’re not enjoying it and you’re not having fun, do something else. Just enjoy it.
“And I’m really passionate about young people being able to find themselves and find the opportunities out there and walk a bit shorter path than I did.”