Our principal and staff

Mrs Jennifer Thompson, Principal

Mrs Thompson has been leading NSW Public Schools as a principal since 2009, serving across three diverse schools. Her extensive educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Professional Certificate in Instructional Leadership, a Master of Educational Leadership, and six digital badges from the University of New South Wales.

Before embarking on her teaching career, Mrs Thompson worked as a geologist for eight years. She began teaching in the Penrith area in 1991, educating students from Pre-school through Year 6 for over 35 years. Mrs Thompson takes great joy in serving the local community and is dedicated to fostering warm and positive relationships with every child in her school.

As a highly experienced principal, Mrs Thompson mentors and coaches newly appointed and mid-career principals. She is passionate about supporting teachers to become the best educators they can be.

Ms Siobhan Haran, Deputy Principal

Ms Haran has over 25 years of experience in public education, including more than eight years in senior leadership roles across diverse school settings. She holds a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education and has taught all year levels from Kindergarten to Year 6.

She has also worked as a Numeracy Facilitator for the Southwest Sydney region, supporting teachers to implement evidence-based strategies in mathematics. A passionate advocate for inclusive education, Ms Haran has led trauma-informed practices such as the Berry Street Education Model and self-regulation programs like Zones of Regulation, and has experience in schools with support units, including ED/BD settings.

Ms Haran mentors teachers and school leaders across multiple settings, fostering leadership growth, and takes great joy in working directly with students each day, supporting their academic, social, and emotional development. She is committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality teacher.

Mrs Susanne Gerrish, School Admin Manager

Mrs Gerrish joined the Department of Education in 2012, beginning her career as a School Learning Support Officer and School Administrative Officer. She has since progressed to her current role as School Administration Manager at Regentville Public School, a position she has held for the past six years.

Before joining the Department, Mrs Gerrish gained valuable experience working outside the education sector, including roles with Medicare and Sydney Ferries. This diverse background has enriched her approach to school administration, bringing a broad perspective and strong organisational skills to her work.

Mrs Gerrish believes that working in the office at Regentville offers the best of both worlds. She values the unique opportunity to connect with both children and parents, fostering a vibrant and supportive school community. For her, the role represents the perfect blend of professional challenge and personal fulfilment.

Ms Kim Oaten, Assistant Principal

Ms Oaten has been teaching infants and primary students for more than 20 years, both in Australia and overseas. She began her career as a graphic artist before completing a Bachelor in Communications and a Diploma in Education, and that creative background has continued to shape the way she designs lessons that are engaging, meaningful, and fun for students.

Over the years, she has taught across many year levels and has taken on leadership roles as an Instructional Leader and Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction. These roles have allowed her to support teachers in building their capacity, lead whole-school initiatives in literacy and numeracy, and guide curriculum changes. She strongly believes in evidence-based, explicit teaching practices, and she has seen how these approaches lift student achievement and strengthen teaching across a school.

Ms Oaten is committed to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive classrooms where every child feels valued and capable. She is passionate about helping students grow as learners and as people, while also fostering a collaborative school culture where the whole community feels supported and empowered to do their best work.

Mrs Donna Farran-McKee, Assistant Principal

With over 30 years of teaching experience, Mrs Farran-McKee is a dedicated and passionate educator who has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to student growth and wellbeing. Known for exceptional intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, she creates a supportive and engaging learning environment that values each student’s unique abilities.
A firm believer in differentiated learning, Mrs Farran-McKee has extensive experience catering for high potential and gifted students, as well as supporting learners with diverse needs. Through clear goal setting and the use of success criteria, she empowers students to take ownership of their learning and achieve meaningful progress.
Beyond the classroom, Mrs Farran-McKee is a trusted mentor for staff and a collaborative team leader, her experience and expertise has extended into tertiary education, being able to mentor and lead others in their respective learning and career goals. With a proven ability to integrate technology into learning through STEM, she embraces innovation to enhance teaching practice and student outcomes.
Strong communication and deep connections with the school community underpin her approach, ensuring that students receive both academic and social-emotional support. Guided by a passion for education, Mrs Farran-McKee continues to inspire students and colleagues alike through leadership, care, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Mr Rod Miskell, Assistant Principal

Mr. Miskell has been a dedicated educator at Regentville Public School for 17 years, following over a decade of experience in managing sporting facilities. During his tenure at Regentville, he has played a pivotal role in fostering the development of students both academically and in extracurricular pursuits, particularly within the sporting arena.

Mr. Miskell's commitment to promoting school sports has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including Service Awards from Sydney West PSSA, NSW PSSA, and School Sport Australia. His leadership in coaching has led three Regentville basketball teams to victory in the NSW Championships.

In addition to his contributions in the classroom, Mr. Miskell has served as an organiser for the Glenmore Park Learning Alliance, where he coordinated the development of a comprehensive series of mathematics lessons for K-6 students across the region.

Within the school, Mr. Miskell fulfills several key roles, including organising practicums for university students and leading the school’s Workplace Health and Safety committee. He is deeply committed to the holistic development of each student, ensuring that their academic, social, and emotional needs are met during their time at school.

Mr Glyn Jones, Assistant Principal

Mr Jones has a diverse and extensive educational background, holding degrees in science, mathematics, and education. His professional experience spans roles as a marine biologist and in the Information Technology sector. With 18 years of teaching experience, he has also held a variety of leadership positions, including Assistant Principal, Teacher Quality Adviser, and Teaching Principal. His broad knowledge, qualifications, and experience equip him to effectively teach across multiple grade levels and educational settings.

Committed to continuous professional growth, Mr Jones actively seeks to improve both his own practice and that of his colleagues. He is dedicated to advancing teaching methodologies through evidence-based practices that foster deep critical thinking and application. He strives to establish a shared understanding of quality teaching—what it looks like, feels like, and sounds like—to enhance learning outcomes for all students.

Mr Jones has a strong passion for high potential and gifted education. He is deeply committed to recognising and nurturing the unique talents and abilities of every student. His approach focuses on creating an inclusive learning environment that challenges and inspires gifted learners to reach their full potential while supporting their social and emotional well-being. His dedication to fostering growth across intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical domains reflects a commitment to both equity and excellence in education for all students.

Ms Jill Little, Assistant Principal

Ms Little has been in teaching and leadership roles, in schools, for more than 25 years. She has worked in NSW Department schools, Aboriginal community schools and international schools. She is dedicated to ensuring all students access quality educational opportunities, setting them up to become life-long learners.

During her career, she has taught across all year levels, leading and supporting students, parents and colleagues in the teaching and learning process.  Ms Little has had extensive training in supporting neurodivergent students and students speaking in languages other than English. She has set up and led quality learning and support teams, ensuring students with learning diversities and English as an Additional Language or Dialect learners are accessing the curriculum. She promotes that all students have strengths and diversity is to be celebrated.

As a Kamilaroi woman, Ms Little passionately shares her cultural knowledge with the whole school community.  She encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families to embrace their own cultural journey.  Ms Little has dedicated years of work to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and languages are acknowledged, taught and respected within schools in the Penrith schools' network and the NSW Department of Education.