Founding Narre Warren South P-12 principal Ross Miller has called it a day after 48 years in the education industry. 19775By Callan Date
ROSS Miller has been part of an education evolution during his 48 years of teaching.
The inaugural Narre Warren South P-12 principal has decided to retire after spending a quarter of a century helping guide students and teachers in the local region.
Mr Miller, 66, began his involvement with the area when he accepted a leading teacher role at Berwick High School in 1983.
Before that he had stints at Parkwood Secondary College, Bayswater High and Yea High as well as several years teaching abroad in Canada.
It all started for the teaching veteran as a student himself at Epping Primary School.
A passion for art, primarily sculpting, was crafted from a young age and was expanded upon while studying at Melbourne University.
Mr Miller went on to graduate from Melbourne Teachers’ College and later completed a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at RMIT.
Throughout his time he has also starred on television, had his own radio show, helped write a musical/comedy production and set-up a small ski school for the under privileged in Canada.
Overseas is where Mr Miller met his wife Gina. Both were working on the same school board and soon struck up a relationship that blossomed.
The couple soon relocated back to Australia.
Mr Miller said he has had many memorable moments in education and is hard pressed to nominate a single highlight from his rewarding journey.
But having an indoor basketball stadium named in his honour at Berwick Secondary College and being selected as the founding principal of one of the largest schools in Victoria are both definitely up there.
“I spent 18 years at Berwick and have some great memories from that school,” he said.
“What we went about there was giving a lot of opportunities to a lot of different students.”
Mr Miller rose to assistant principal at Berwick before he was selected to take on the challenging role of principal at Narre Warren South P-12.
He recalls the exact date, 7 October 2001, like it was yesterday.
“The concept of a P-12 (prep to year 12) school was exciting. I thought it would be different and I knew it would be a massive challenge.
“We had 800 students on the first day of term. But it was amazing how quickly it all came together.”
There were some moments of chaos leading up to the opening day, he said.
“I had three days off in six months. It was exciting but hard work. We were still laying carpet the day before school started and the campus was like a building zone.”
In the end it all came together for the college – which now has an enrolment of more than 1900 students.
Mr Miller says the key to teaching is about giving opportunities to those you work with – both students and staff.
“You always have to give young students a chance to flourish and that’s what we try to do.
“All the time you bump into ex-students and it’s good to talk to them and find out what they are doing now.”
In retirement Mr Miller plans on spending more time with family, including his grandchildren, reigniting his passion for the arts and continuing his love for travel.
A bit of relaxing at his tranquil property in the Dandenongs will also be high on the agenda for the man who has seen the wheels of change occur throughout his rewarding career in education.
