Vicki, Our Steady Hand

Vicki came to us from the world of accounting. She wanted a change in career, and she found it here, not just as our school administrator but as a steady, trusted presence for all of us.

It’s not an easy leap, leaving a profession you’ve built up over years to step into the unpredictable, often messy world of schools. But that’s what she did. And from day one she brought with her a level of organisation, skill, and calm that has become part of the rhythm of our place.

“She lightens my load as a principal, because I know the finances are in expert hands.”

A busy mum with two sets of kids

Vicki is a busy mum at home, juggling the responsibilities of her own children. Yet she somehow finds the space and energy to juggle us as well, the “big kids” at school. We might not always admit it, but staff need that same kind of care and organisation to keep things steady. She provides it, with humour and good grace.

There’s a truth here: schools often run on invisible labour. Behind every timetable, every payment, every invoice, there is someone making sure the details don’t fall through the cracks. For us, that someone is Vicki.

The weight lifted

One of the difficult parts of being a principal is that you’re expected to know a little bit about everything. Finance, property, curriculum, staffing, policy, the list never ends. It’s a bit like being a primary school teacher, who needs to know a little of every subject, every day.

For years, school finance was something that took me far too long to keep on top of and manage. I would grind away at it, always second-guessing myself, never quite sure if I’d missed something. With Vicki here, that weight lifted. I have someone I can trust, an expert who keeps the finances straight so I can put my energy where it matters most.

“She brought her accounting skills into our world and transformed them into care.”

Beyond the desk

But Vicki’s story didn’t stop at the office door. Over the past few years she has also stepped into the role of teacher aide, bringing her steadiness and skill into the classroom. That shift says a lot about her character. She doesn’t stand back when there’s a need. She steps forward. She adapts. She serves.

And in doing so, she shows our Trekkers another side of what it means to be part of a school community, that everyone, no matter their role, is there to support learning and belonging.

A bridge for our community

One of the roles Vicki quietly takes on is being a bridge between school and home. Parents come into the office and often talk with her first, sometimes even before they speak with me. She knows the right balance of professionalism and warmth, the way to be welcoming without ever losing the thread of what needs to be done.

In many ways, she sets the tone for our school. The first impression families get is often through her. And that impression is one of order, kindness, and support. She is the calm voice on the phone, the helpful answer at the desk, the person who makes sure things run smoothly even when the unexpected happens.

It’s easy to overlook this role, because it happens so naturally. But the truth is, that bridge matters. It is one of the reasons our community trusts us. And it is one of the reasons I trust her so deeply.

Quiet leadership

Vicki leads without announcing it. She is organised, helpful, and supportive. She carries the practical load of school finance, but she also carries the relational load of being there for us as staff, making sure we’re held steady. She models that rare combination of precision and care.

Her leadership is not loud. It’s not positional. It’s not about standing in front of people and telling them what to do. It’s about showing up, being reliable, and creating the space for others to do their jobs well.

“Leadership is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like quiet competence.”

The wider challenge

Which brings me to the challenge. Schools often assume leadership must come from teachers. We measure status by classroom positions, not by contribution. Yet in Vicki we see a truth that upends that assumption: leadership can come from behind a desk, through a spreadsheet, or in the way someone steadies the rest of us so we can flourish.

And this challenge is bigger than schools. In families, in workplaces, in community groups, how often do we overlook the people who actually keep things running? How often do we undervalue the ones who bring order, care, and steadiness, just because their job title doesn’t say “leader”?

What Vicki teaches us is that leadership is not about the loudest voice or the highest title. It’s about trust, reliability, and the quiet strength that allows others to thrive.

And maybe that’s the lesson: sometimes the best leaders are not the ones standing at the front, but the ones working steadily in the background, making sure everything holds.