“I’d love to see this school really be the benchmark and model school for Victoria,” said Ms Taylor, who began at the start of this year after former principal Linda Flynn moved to Daylesford Secondary College. 

Ms Taylor said Mt Clear College had amazing facilities with the Earth Ed Science Centre and Language Centre across the road, but would like to see the whole school brought up to the same standard. 

“I want the school to be a great example for environmental education, as a five-star energy resource smart school,” she said.

Ms Taylor said the school community could make the best impact on every student’s life for the six years they attend the college. 

“Six years isn’t long. There’s almost a sense of urgency, how can we grow the students’ literacy and numerology as fast we can.”

She said the school had surprised her.

“The front of the school doesn’t tell you what’s inside ... you have no idea until you come through what an amazing place it is.”

The school has about 1100 students, with three mini schools up to VCE, when students combine.

Mt Clear College is Ms Taylor’s ninth school and her third principal role. Prior to Mt Clear, she was principal at Numurkah Secondary College, after a long career involving starting in the western suburbs of Melbourne, teaching in Mildura and Wangaratta. 

Originally from Wedderburn and University of Ballarat alumni, she decided to come back to Western Victoria and because she wanted to be closer to the coast. 

“It’s nice for me to come back to where it all started,” she said.

nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au