Adele Kerr has welcomed world leaders through the front door of the Enniskillen Integrated Primary School (EIPS) and Nursery throughout her 25 years as principal.

However, the most special people to cross the threshold of the school are still the pupils and their families.

 She has a simple philosophy: “It’s all about the children and it has always been about the children. I always say any child if they're not happy, they won't learn.”

Her happiness philosophy may come down to the fact she “hated” school growing up, once running away out a window when she was P1.

She laughed as she recalled: “I have told the children that. My staff think that's why I always champion the underdog.”

Mrs. Kerr (57) is Northern Ireland’s longest-serving Integrated Principal and will retire officially at the end of August however, there was no sign of slowing down as she was still busy with paperwork when this newspaper visited.

Coming off a high from the success of 'Shrek the Musical', where she played 'Puss in Boots', her costume was hanging up behind her in her office.

She enjoyed seeing the confidence of each child grow and having the craic backstage. Further good came through donations from visiting schools from across Fermanagh who donated to watch the show and now two charities Tiny Life and NI Air Ambulance will receive £757 each.

Mrs. Kerr has been a school principal for over 30 years. When she moved to Fermanagh upon her marriage to Andrew Kerr in 1993, her first post in the county was as principal of Belleek Primary School: “I was a teaching principal in Belleek Primary School. I went from this very cosmopolitan city school in Belfast to a rural primary school which was a steep learning curve for me."

She laughed: “I learnt about farming. I learnt about Limousins, I couldn't get my head round about this big long stretch limo in Belleek when in fact it was a Limousin cow.”

While she was “blessed in Belleek”, her passion for integrated education called her and she took on the role of the Principal of EIPS in 1999.

When asked to recall fond memories in the school, Mrs. Kerr gestures to a large photo of David Cameron watching Barack Obama hugging Mrs. Kerr during a 2013 visit to the school during the G8 summit.

“Having them here was surreal”, she said.

She recalled the effort she made to keep the 2013 visit of Barack Obama and David Cameron secret and the joy when she told the teachers and students who was coming to visit them in school.

Other dignitaries included a First Minister and Secretary of States.

Mrs. Kerr also met the late Queen, Elizabeth II five times including as a principal, when she received her MBE for services to education and twice through her involvement with the Scouting movement.

No stranger to the halls of power, Mrs. Kerr was invited to speak at the House of Lords at a dinner organised by the late Baroness May Blood.

Other achievements included the large increase in the number of pupils at the school. In 1999 there were 185 children and now including children in the nursery, there are 432 children with a Special Educational Needs unit.

Praising the “brilliant” education sector in Fermanagh she said: “I've enjoyed my growing partnerships with other schools and getting to know other staff.”

As for retirement plans, she will travel to watch a rugby match next year and will be volunteering to help re-establish the Fermanagh Special Olympics group.

As for retirement, she quipped: “It’s not retiring, it’s a change in lifestyle.”

Mrs. Kerr concluded by saying she was “blessed” with the children, their families, the “fabulous” staff and the Board of Governors at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School.