As she steps down this week from one of Sydney Diocese’s most demanding jobs, the principal of Kingsdene Special School says it was prayer, and God's loving hand, that kept her and the school going.

Described by Cabinet Minister Brendan Nelson as a "community hero' for her pioneering work with children with severe intellectual disabilities, Gloria Boyd retires after 26 years at Anglicare’s special school in Telopea. For the past 17 years, Gloria has been principal.

Her retirement coincides with Kingsdene's 30th birthday and a reunion will be held tomorrow, June 24 to celebrate both events.

"It is a very demanding job and I am happy to hand over the reigns now Kingsdene is in a strong position," she says.

"It's the right time to hand over the reigns to give Kingsdene the impetus to go into the future."

Gloria has no doubt that prayer sparked the "miracle' in 2003 that saw the school saved from closure at the final moment.

"I never dreamt we would still be open," she says.

"We at Kingsdene really know that "my God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there is nothing our God can not do’.” We sing it all this time - it's become like our school anthem. God is bigger than any man-made plans."

Facing a massive deficit budget, Anglicare was set to close Kingsdene unless it found an additional $1 million per annum from the Federal and State Governments, Sydney Anglicans and the community.

Ms Boyd says the fact that God saved Kingsdene only reinforced the critical role she believes prayer plays in the ministry.

"We have been very dependent on prayer, and we have had so many answers to prayer.

"It is such challenging work " supporting young people who live such difficult lives, who are dependent on our cues just to move through daily routines. And we are confronted from time to time with children who can become quite aggressive and challenging. It is only prayer that keeps us going.

"To share the message of the gospel with our students is not easy because they are not necessarily processing words and pictures," she says.

“But over the years of worshipping through singing and praying, many come to know Jesus.”

Sometimes the students' faith can be an encouragement to Gloria and her staff. One such time was after the funeral of a student who had died from a health complication.

"One student said it was OK because he knew his friend was "with Jesus'. This boy understood the most important part - that Jesus is here, with us."

Ms Boyd admits her friends at her church, St Chad's, Putney, were "shocked' and "in disbelief' when she announced her retirement.

"After my prayer group began praying for me I started to feel very calm about my decision. I wasn't worrying about Kingsdene anymore. I knew Kingsdene was in God's hands."

"I’d really like to have a rest and think about what God has in store for me next," she says.

"I would really like to use my skills in Christian service to people."