Kerrie Blain on balancing seven kids and a demanding teaching career

Posted on 6 June, 2019

She has been a well-known fixture in ACT schools for the last 20 years—following an even longer teaching career in regional Australia and overseas.

But did you know that Telopea Park School’s principal Kerrie Blain has also raised seven children while managing her career?

Telopea is a binational school – the only school of its kind in Australia which operates under a Treaty signed by both the Governments of France and Australia.

It caters for both a French and English stream among around 1450 students and 160 staff – 40 of whom are from France.

Luckily for Kerrie, her university experience in Newcastle included courses in French – as well as majors in Mathematics, Geology, and Psychology.

In her current role, she is able to read, understand (and speak a little) French although she “negotiates only in English!”

It was the late ’60s when Kerrie won both a Commonwealth and a Teachers College Scholarship.

She received a BA and a Diploma of Education and while teaching was probably not her first choice, back then, options for a young woman in Newcastle were limited.

“I married as soon as I graduated from university. I taught briefly in Newcastle and as I had a degree in Mathematics, I was given Years 11 and 12 to teach. I loved my subject. I have always been passionate about education and its importance to the wealth of any nation.

“My husband was studying law at this time and we moved to Gunnedah, NSW, for him to complete Articles. I taught Mathematics at Gunnedah High School and I then had my first three children in three years!”

As soon as her husband was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW, the couple packed up and moved to Cambridge, UK, where they lived for three years. He worked with a law firm and Kerrie worked in various schools (mainly at Years 11 and 12).

They moved to Canberra from Cambridge where her husband joined a law firm in the ’80s.

“I did relief teaching as well as looking after the children. Baby number four was born the year after, and then three more arrived all spread out between my placement in various schools. I had enormous support from amazing women who looked after the children. One is still with me today keeping the house in order in spite of the fact the children have all long since gone.”

When the last child was almost nine Kerrie wanted to contribute to education in a more tangible way. She taught Mathematics at Alfred Deakin High School and was convinced to stay there.

“The principal at that time was incredibly supportive of me and encouraged me to take on leadership. He was my first advocate. After three years there I moved to Telopea Park School briefly as the Executive Teacher of Student Welfare and then as the Secondary Deputy Principal for five years. Again, I worked with people who believed in me and gave me enormous support. I won the principal position in 2010.”

Kerrie cites the highs of the job as “working with children and seeing their potential”. There are few lows but “if I had to name one it would be the inequity which exists in our society. This is highlighted in government schools which can be the only places where some children are nurtured and feel safe”.

The skills she believes have helped her negotiate being a principal include “The ability to listen and to build relationships. Relationships, relationships, relationships!”

Balancing such demanding home life required the support of her husband, taking time out (14 years in total between babies), the support of carers for the children, house help, and working with professional advocates who believed in her.