Principal’s 50 years in schools
After 50 years in education, Mike Sutton can still easily recall the principals who made an impact on his career.
His first gig was at Henderson North Primary School in Auckland in 1968, where he was teaching Year 3-4 pupils.
There, the principal made a point of meeting with Sutton once a week to talk about his progress.
‘‘He didn’t always tell you the answers, but he got you to reflect, and that was something I always tried to follow through with myself,’’ he said.
His second principal had a navy background and had strong beliefs and did not like to be challenged.
But there Sutton learned young teachers could grow into effective leaders if they were encouraged and supported.
‘‘I think principals are a really important influence on teachers. I think we have a responsibility to grow and develop our teachers, and that is an exciting thing.’’
Now, the Rototuna Primary School principal has reached a milestone of 50 years in education.
He was celebrated at the school on Friday, March 9.
Sutton first became a principal in 1977, nine years after he began teaching.
Prior to the promotion, he taught new entrants for three years, a role he said was ‘‘invaluable’’ in teaching him how to be a principal. He still works in Rototuna’s new entrant classroom once a week.
‘‘It gives you credibility. You’re not just in an office, you are still getting in there and mixing in with it.’’
After his first role in Henderson, Sutton headed to Huntly, where he stayed for three-anda-half years.
It was in the North Waikato town that he obtained his bus drivers license.
He’s now been a principal for 41 years, spending 10 of those years with Rototuna Primary School.
‘‘I was the oldest of nine, and the oldest cousin on one side of the family, so I had become use to working with children. At first I thought I’d like to do something like architecture, but then again, I liked working with people and children.
‘‘You can go home at the end of the day and think ‘I’ve had a terrible day’, but then you think about what learning had happened, for teachers, for kids, and it makes it all worthwhile,’’ he said.