A WESTERN NSW student was granted rare insight into the work of the Sydney-based executive of the state's Department of Education this week.
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For two days Warren Central School student Emily Glover and 19 other young leaders shadowed the woman who heads up the department and her colleagues.
Time spent following and observing department secretary Dr Michele Bruniges AM and her team proved an "eye-opening" experience for the year 11 student.
"I've made a lot of friends and learnt a lot about the Department of Education that I'll take back to school," she said.
The students from across the state were taking part in the Secretary for a Day program, a feature of NSW Education Week from July 27 to 31.
A spokesman for the department said the program offered the students insight into the challenges and rewards of being an executive and helped them understand "how educational policy relates to schools".
"It is a rewarding opportunity providing talented students first-hand experience of what is involved working as a senior manager in a large government organisation like the Department of Education," he said.
Emily was chosen on her principal's recommendation and a written application outlining her leadership experience, personal qualities, areas of interest and what she hoped to learn by taking part in Secretary for a Day.
During her two days at the Department of Education's Sydney offices, Emily "took over the desk" of the executive director, learning management and business reform and participated in meetings, forums and workshops.
