Ross Higgins retires as principal from Aldridge State High School

As a dedicated Fraser Coast principal of 13 years enters retirement, he looks back on his teaching career and key highlights of his time at the school.

Ross Higgins was dedicated to his job as a principal at Aldridge State High School.

He was in the top job for 13 years, deputy principal for six, and had also worked as the head of department for physical education – a driving force in establishing the school’s Volleyball Excellence Program.

With both parents and two brothers teaching (a third brother also has a teaching qualification), Mr Higgins was destined for a career in education.

“I think it was just the environment I grew up with and the fact the I enjoyed interacting with kids,” he told the Fraser Coast Chronicle

“I still think teaching is a fantastic profession, if I was in grade 12 at the moment and had all the knowledge of what was entailed in my job to come based on what I now have, I’d still be taking the same path.”

Despite now entering retirement, Mr Higgins plans to continue to be involved in the local community and volunteer where possible like with the school’s Excellence in Golf Program.

“I have a daughter who’s been working in London now for six years, and with the Covid situation we haven’t seen her a great deal in the last six years, so I look forward to doing a little bit of travel as well,” he said.

One of his highlights during his time as principal was seeing Aldridge become an independent public school.

“The school was one of the first 26 independent public schools that was set up in 2013, so we were standing alongside schools such as Brisbane State High …” he said.

“That something that we took a great deal of pride in because there was a very substantive process that was gone through to vet those that were placed onto that program.”

He also went overseas twice to Japan to visit the Aldridge sister school, Kasukabe Junior High.

“That’s really been … a highlight on the two occasions I’ve gone over there, the hospitality, the opportunity to see how other societies go about the educative process, has really been informative,” he said.

While at Aldridge, Mr Higgins said he was fortunate to work with a number of people who were “significantly tied to the school”.

He started the ‘Aldridge Lifers’ – a picture wall of fame between the office and the staff common room celebrating those staff members who had worked at Aldridge for 25 years, and their significant contributions.

“One of the things I was always able to say is when I created it I knew I was never going to be on it …” he said jovially.

“At different stages I went away to be principal at other places, so I won’t get my 25 years, I’ve only got 20 years under my belt, so I’m a relative newcomer.”

Ross Higgins was the principal of Aldridge State High School for 13 years. Photo: Aldridge State High School, Facebook.

Tricea Van der Heijde met Mr Higgins in 2009 when she was working as the school’s chaplain.

“I remember meeting Ross for the first time, he was very friendly (to everyone), amazingly supportive and extremely respected in his authoritative role,” Ms Van der Heijde said.

“Parents felt at ease with him, staff were heard by him. Students were seen by him.

“There was no fear in the way he led the school and we saw a massive shift in the way the school regarded itself, a sense of pride started to rise from within.”

She said Mr Higgins had the mindset “we are all in this together”, like the school was one a big family and he was always clear, kind and supportive.

“The students gelled so well with him, they actually wanted to make good choices because of the support he gave,” she said.

“I always think of my time at Aldridge fondly and I believe the main reason for that is because of Ross and the blood sweat and tears he poured into the people that made up ASHS.”