EVEN 15 years after stepping into the role of St Luke's Preschool director, Kathy Flanigan still marvels at the sight of a child's face lighting up in wonder at their newest discovery.
Remarkably, the dedicated and hardworking preschool teacher still finds the same joy in witnessing a child express their excitement and love for learning and life.
The highly-regarded preschool teacher is this year celebrating 15 years as St Luke's Preschool director, recently celebrating the momentous occasion with a special barbecue at the Botanic Gardens.
For Kathy, the last 15 years have been a rewarding chapter of her career and life, with the highly-regarded preschool teacher revelling in the chance to watch local children grow and develop.
"The first few of a child's life are the most important so it is a truly wonderful time to be a part of their lives," she said.
"Its has been so rewarding to be able to share in their love for learning, excitement as they find new things out and discover the answers to their many questions.
"I find it incredibly special to have the chance to explore the world alongside them and see things through through their eyes."
Wagga born and bred, Kathy joined the St Luke's Preschool team in 1996 after a five-year teaching stint in Coffs Harbour.
Her passion for teaching and her desire to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children in her care immediately endeared her to St Luke's Preschool's management, who offered her a combined role of director and teacher.
While there would be many people that would baulk at the workload the combined position could present, Kathy eagerly dived into the challenge.
"In the role I had the centre administration work to do and complete as well as my duties as a teacher," she said.
"I would spend the days teaching and complete the administration in the afternoon when all the children had gone home.
"In the last two years the paperwork we are required to do has really increased and I am having to do much more than when I started.
"I am very lucky to have a very supportive and proactive management team who recognised this and have changed the budget to include a day a week to do office work.
"I don't always take that day though, because I just love teaching the kids."
From her time at St Luke's Preschool Kathy has amassed a long list of stand-out achievements and career highlights ? but admits it's hard to pinpoint the most special moments from the many fond memories.
"It is very hard to pick the highlights ? there are so many," she laughed.
"The 50th anniversary celebrations were wonderful and will be hard to forget.
"St Luke's was started in 1957 so it was very special to have so many previous directors, staff and parish members get together to celebrate the occasion.
"Also at the start of this year we had a senior lecturer from the Australian Catholic University who came to visit us.
"After her visit she wanted us to be included in a tour of centres that overseas groups take when they come to Australia because she felt were a leading centre.
"That was a very proud moment."
In what is sure to come as a relief to parents across the region, Kathy is not planning on leaving St Luke's Preschool anytime soon.
Email a friend