“It’s very humbling, especially because I’m one of those sorts of people who likes to hide in shadows,” Manildra St Joseph’s School principal Jocelyn Farr said yesterday.

“I never thought it would turn out that this school has been my life.”

Mrs Farr was this week revealed as a recipient of the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.

She was one of 60 principals and teachers across Australia honoured out of a record 1200 nominations.

The popular principal boasts lifelong ties to her school few others could best.

Her father built the school shortly before she attended as a student between kindergarten and year 10.

After a brief time away from Manildra at boarding school and teaching college, it didn’t take long for Mrs Farr to return to to her educational roots.

“Early on I declared I’d never teach in my hometown, I just though it was all a little too familiar and I just needed to get away,” she said.

“I wanted to get out of this little insular place and get out into the wide world.

“But I came back and I loved it, I quickly became a part of the whole community and the parents were just so supportive and the fact my family lived here was great support.

“I’ve taught my children at this school and now I’m teaching my grandchild, the years fly by so quickly you get caught up in it all and can lose track of time quite easily.”

Mrs Farr will now proceed to the next phase of the National Excellence in Teaching Awards process where 10 teachers will be selected to receive national awards.

She was initially nominated several months ago by the St Joseph’s School Parents and Friends Association.

“She’s taught generations of people in Manildra and we think of her as a credit to the teaching profession,” P&F president Dan Simmons said yesterday.

“She’s a fantastic principal and the parents and friends and children couldn’t think more highly of her.”