Dr Thompson’s story

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Bad Apple school principals and departmental officers bully classroom teachers into ill health and out of work.

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A teacher's story: Victoria

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Eltham Primary School: Dr Mark Thompson's story.

Dr Mark Thompson was the respected principal of Eltham Primary School.

He worked up to seven days a week.

He was suffering from workplace stress.

In 2014 a parent accused Dr Thompson of discriminating against their child.

" That was the straw that broke the camel's back, " said Meadowglen Primary School principal Dr Loretta Piazza

Tragically, Dr Thompson took his own life.

My dad was a great educator. His focus all throughout his career was putting students first, " said Dr Thompson's son, Matt.

But he spent, particularly towards the end of his career, so much time dealing with trivial complaints from parents... I think towards the end it all perhaps got too much for him".

At the time of his death Dr Thompson was working as co-author on a study that revealed assistant principals were reluctant to take on the role of principal due to long hours, high levels of stress, burnout and abuse.

Co-author Dr Piazza completed the study after Dr Thompson's death.

Dr Thompson's wife Lynda is also a school principal.

She pursued the Workcover dependent's compensation claim for her husband's legacy.

" I want to improve the working conditions of principals and teachers, " she said.

Mrs Thompson said Workcover claims involving mental health issues were very hard to prove.

In May 2016, after a gruelling 18-month wait, Mrs Thompson received official confirmation that workplace stress was a factor in her husband's death.

Parents have a lot of say in how you run your school, they think they have the right to question you all the time, " Mrs Thompson said.

Principals are under the pump with parent complaints. It is very time consuming and unfortunately principals have to prove their innocence all the time.

Mrs Thompson has been on leave all year, and said the Education Department had not provided much support.

My life is very different, " she said. " My family miss him every day. He has missed out on his daughter's wedding, the birth of our first grandchild. I am finding it very difficult".

Dr Piazza said the Victorian Education Department must provide greater support to school leaders.

A number of senior people at the department don't have an educational background... they don't know what it's like to be pursued by a disgruntled parent, or to have your tyres slashed by a student, " she said.

While they have a number of fantastic skills, if they have never worked in schools, they have no understanding of the pressures and the day-to-day issues facing principals.

Landmark payout for widow of Melbourne principal who took his own life, Henrietta Cook, The Age, 14 May 2016

Stress, burnout, abuse deter deputy principals: study, Nick Toscano, The Age, 8 January 2016.

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