‘That I cared’: Retiring Groggan principal Cathy Humphrey reflects on a lifetime of shaping young lives
- Love Ballymena
- Jun 24
- 7 min read
Groggan Primary School recently marked the occasion as principal Cathy Humphrey prepares to retire from a lifetime dedicated to education
“That I cared.”
After a lifetime spent helping children learn, grow and find their place in the world, that is how retiring Groggan Primary School principal Cathy Humphrey MBE hopes former pupils will remember her.
For a woman who was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List in 2023 with an MBE for services to education in Northern Ireland, the answer is striking in its simplicity.
Not awards. Not titles. Not achievements.
Just that she cared.
As she prepares to leave Groggan Primary School on the Portglenone Road outside Randalstown after more than a decade as principal and a career spanning decades in education, Mrs Humphrey leaves behind countless memories, lasting friendships and a school community shaped by kindness, belonging and care.
A childhood dream that never faded
For some, teaching is a career discovered later in life. For Cathy, it was the only career she ever wanted.
She still remembers her own first day in Primary 1 at Carniny Primary School when she was just three years old.
Growing up in Ballymena, her ambition was shaped by a teacher she never forgot.
Mrs Elizabeth Green, her Primary 2 teacher, left a lasting impression.
“She was the loveliest teacher and supported me when I applied for my very first job,” she recalled.
The impact was profound.
“I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. There was no other career I wanted to do.”
Looking back now, she has a simple message for the young teacher she once was.
“Be prepared for anything and make the children’s time in your class the best you can.”
It is advice that would ultimately define her entire career.
A journey through classrooms and communities
Cathy… A lifetime of memories from generations of children
Cathy began her teaching career at Bellaghy Primary School, where she taught Primary 3 and 4 pupils.
Many of the children came from farming families and she smiles when remembering how they enthusiastically educated their teacher on all things agricultural.
She later moved to Buick Memorial Primary School in Cullybackey in 1996 and remained there until 2013.
Those years brought many treasured memories, including school trips to Morecambe and Manchester.
Not every memory involved sleep.
“The lack of sleep and being woken by wee footsteps at three in the morning wasn’t a high point,” she laughed.
By the time she left Buick Memorial as vice-principal, a new challenge awaited.
When a principal’s post became available at Groggan Primary School, she applied immediately.
There was just one problem.
“I had to take a road trip because I’d no idea where it was.”
That leap of faith would prove life-changing.
In January 2014 she arrived at Groggan as principal.
On her very first day there was no water in the school.
“I suddenly realised it was down to me to sort it out.”
It was an early lesson in the realities of school leadership.
Leading with kindness
Over the next 12 years, Cathy watched the school flourish.
Enrolment increased and the school itself physically doubled in size.
Yet when she reflects on leadership, it is not buildings, budgets or statistics that come to mind.
Instead, she returns to the people.
“Just do your best, love the children and look after the staff. That was what I tried to do each day.”
It is a lesson she says no leadership course could ever teach.
The philosophy may sound simple, but it became the foundation upon which she built her leadership.
For colleagues, parents and pupils, it is perhaps the quality that best defines her career.
Recognition beyond the classroom
Cathy during her visit to Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE from the King, for services to education
Cathy’s commitment to education was recognised nationally in 2023 when she was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
For those who know her, the honour felt richly deserved.
Yet she speaks about the recognition with the same humility that characterises much of her story.
The achievements she values most are not found on certificates or honours lists.
They happen quietly, every day, inside classrooms and playgrounds.
“The small things,” she said.
“Seeing a child suddenly ‘get it’, watching a child who struggled socially playing with others on the playground, a wee hand holding yours, or a dysregulated child becoming calm in your presence.”
While she has taught children who have gone on to do remarkable things, it is acts of kindness that make her proudest.
Those moments, she says, are what truly matter.
Lessons learned from children
Cathy knows the importance of getting ‘stuck in’ and having a laugh with the children
Spend enough time around children and they quickly teach adults a few lessons too.
Cathy says one of the most important is not to take yourself too seriously.
“A child will tell you exactly what they think.”
She laughs recalling the countless times she was accidentally called “Mum” by pupils.
Even on difficult days, there was usually something to smile about.
“I’ve laughed each day in my career, even on the hard days.”
Not every memory is joyful.
Some former pupils are sadly no longer with us.
“Some of the pupils I’ve taught are no longer with us. That has been hard, and the memory of these children has stayed with me.”
Asked whether one child stands out above the rest, she refuses to choose.
“There are so many it wouldn’t be right to choose.
“Each child has made me proud one way or another and I’ve fond memories of all of them.”
The answer perhaps reveals more about her than any single story ever could.
A school built on belonging
If there is one belief that has guided Cathy throughout her career, it is that children need more than an education.
They need to belong.
Asked what children need most from schools today, her answer comes without hesitation.
“A sense of belonging and to feel loved.”
That simple belief has shaped the culture of Groggan Primary School.
She speaks passionately about the importance of relationships between schools and families.
“It is crucial.
“We talk about our Groggan family with the children and developing a solid, open relationship with families is crucial to the education and support of the child.”
When asked to describe the school community in three words, she answers instantly.
“Special, happy, loved.”
Looking around the school today, she says her greatest pride is not the physical transformation of the site but the culture that exists within it.
“They are accepting of everyone and look out for each other.”
That, she says, is what makes Groggan special.
“The children and the people in the school.”
How education has changed
The profession Cathy entered bears little resemblance to the one she is leaving.
She remembers a time when schools had a single computer that relied on floppy disks and teaching was much more traditional.
Today, technology, artificial intelligence, outdoor learning and countless other developments have transformed the classroom experience.
Yet some changes have brought additional pressures.
“When I first started teaching we had time to enjoy the job, have fun with the children and it all seemed so much less stressful.
“The job has changed so much.
“Teaching the children is the most important part, but the paperwork, testing, reporting and everything else at times seems impossible.”
Despite the challenges, she remains passionate about the transformative power of education.
“It opens doors to things you never thought possible.”
Asked what qualities make a great teacher, her answer is equally straightforward.
“Patience, kindness and understanding.”
And she remains hopeful about the future.
“What gives me hope is that there are good teachers out there who want to make a real difference to the pupils in their classes.”
A family retirement too
No teaching career lasts decades without support.
Cathy is quick to credit her family.
Her husband, Denver, became a familiar figure around the school, volunteering regularly and tackling whatever jobs appeared on his ever-growing list.
Their sons, Zak and Alex, also became part of the fabric of school life, helping at events and lending a hand whenever needed.
Cathy also praised her brother Peter Simpson who has readily stepped in to help with all manners of DIY over the years!
“All four have said they are retiring from Groggan too,” she joked.
“I honestly couldn’t have done the job at times without their help and support.”
As retirement approaches, emotions are beginning to surface.
Staff recently organised a retirement assembly before she was piped out to children lined up in the playground.
“I found that hard,” she admitted.
“I know that the last day I leave for the last time will be a hard one too.”
There are many things she will miss.
The busy run-up to Christmas remains one of her favourite times of the school year.
She will also miss watching nervous Primary 1 pupils arrive for their first days before quickly settling in and becoming part of the Groggan family.
‘It’s the best job in the world’
A touching school assembly organised by the staff and children of Groggan Primary School to honour and celebrate Cathy Humphrey
Cathy does not pretend teaching is easy.
In fact, she describes it as one of the hardest jobs there is.
Yet her affection for the profession remains as strong as ever.
“It’s the best job in the world, and one of the hardest in so many ways.
“It’s been a privilege to be a teacher and the children make each day special.”
Her advice to teachers beginning their own journeys is rooted in experience.
“Be kind to yourself. You’ll make mistakes, we all do. Tomorrow is a new day.
“Really get to know the children in your care, and laugh with them each day.”
Schools, she believes, must never lose sight of what matters most.
“That the children matter and not all of them have had the same experience in life.”
There is also room for humour when reflecting on a lifetime spent in education.
Asked if her career could be summed up in a single message, she laughed:
“She drank an awful lot of coffee!”
When she considers the legacy she hopes to leave behind, however, the answer becomes serious once more.
“That I cared.
“That I made a difference.
“That I tried my very best.”
An emotional occasion.
For Cathy Humphrey, the honours, titles and milestones were never the point. What mattered were the children — the nervous Primary 1 pupils finding their feet, the young people discovering confidence, and the countless moments of kindness she witnessed along the way.
If she is remembered as someone who cared, made a difference and always tried her very best, it is clear that her years at Groggan Primary School will leave a lasting mark long after the final school bell rings.
