Kylie Fowler has taken the reins of Laguna Street Public School in southern Sydney – the school where she was a student and school captain in 1986.

“It’s a really special connection and not many people get this opportunity,” she said.

Mrs Fowler is one of 77 new principals starting the 2024 school year in NSW public education, after being assistant principal at Laguna Street Public School since 2015.

“I love the families and staff here,” Mrs Fowler told ‘The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader’.

“You have to be a people person – making connections to students, staff and families, and get to know them and share the goal of raising little citizens.”

Laguna Street Public School on Dharawal Country at Caringbah has 470 students, including 62 kindies starting next week.

Mrs Fowler intends to add to the sports and performing arts opportunities to cater for a wider range of student interests. A photography club is among the ideas floated.

A proud product of public education, Mrs Fowler completed her secondary education at Woolooware High School and started in the profession as a targeted teaching graduate at Fairfield Heights Public School in 1997.

A generation later, Mrs Fowler’s focus is on the wellbeing of young teachers starting in the classroom.

“The staff here are absolutely amazing and we all work together to support and mentor our early career teachers, so they love their job and stay in the profession,” she said.