Wife, parent, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher. These are the nouns that Mrs. Robyn Pryor uses to describe herself. She is a former teacher and deputy principal at Strathallan who has had an incredible influence on not only the students she has taught over the years, but also the school as a whole. After leaving Strathallan due to a medical condition in 2022, she continues to write articles for the school, showing her love and devotion to our community. I believe she deserves one more noun to add to her list: role model.
Originally, Mrs. Pryor went to Massey University intending to become an architect. However, after completing a paper in English and loving it, she switched to a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English. She became a teacher after completing a teaching diploma in Auckland, working at a variety of schools before joining Strathallan in 2004. Over her time here, she has taught a range of year levels in English, saying that she enjoyed both junior and senior courses as each one offered their own unique challenges and rewards. Some of her memorable moments include having Justin Bieber perform in the school gym back in 2010, when she helped catch students from other schools who tried to sneak in to see it. And seeing the school banding together to work through challenges such as lockdown, or to get behind causes like the Christchurch earthquake, have also been memorable experiences for her. According to Mrs. Pryor, “Teaching is such a rewarding career and Strathallan is like a family, so every day is a good day.”
Former students have described being taught by her: “Mrs. Pryor really inspired me with how passionate she was about our lessons and really kept us engaged. I felt so incredibly proud and privileged to know and have been taught by such an incredible woman”, and “Mrs. Pryor was not only my English teacher, but also managed me and one other as Communication Prefects. She always made space for our ideas and brought out the best in us, and these meetings became the highlight of my week.” This demonstrates how much of an impact she had on her pupils, with many still holding fond memories of her years later.
Not only was she a valued teacher, but also a cherished friend to many of the staff. As deputy principal, Mrs. Pryor worked closely with many members of the admin team, including Miss Murison. “From the moment I met Robyn I adored her, there was just something very special about her. My most favourite memories at Strathallan all include her, and I feel like she was such an asset to this school.” Mrs. Pryor is undeniably somebody who makes a lasting impression with everyone she meets, showing her caring and selfless nature.
After leaving Strathallan, Mrs. Pryor re-enrolled at Massey University in 2023 as a long-distance learner. She studied creative non-fiction, describing it as a step out of her comfort zone after so many years of teaching literature. However, it quickly became a new passion of hers, and she graduated in May with a Master of Creative Writing with Distinction after writing her thesis last year.
In April of this year, she published her first book, Still Time: Reflections on love, loss and life. The book chronicles how her life has changed since being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, and how she will not allow the condition to rob her of her ability to enjoy everything life has to offer. Her book is an amazing example of her ability to tell an emotional story, proving again how lucky Strathallan was to have had her as a teacher. As of today, Mrs. Pryor enjoys spending time with her husband and two stepsons and exploring the works of the writers she has discovered while completing her Master's degree. Her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, and she is a celebrated pillar of our community here at Strathallan.
Mrs. Pryor has changed the lives of so many people for the better, and she deserves to be recognised for it. Although she has always been an inspiration for the students and staff of Strathallan, the recent publication of her book will enable her to inspire many more to appreciate those closest to them, and to find joy in the little things.
