Wanted: School principal with a Batmobile and pointy-eared mask
Our students want their new principal to be funny, friendly, caring, organised and ‘like Batman’.
Fancy yourself a superhero in teacher’s clothing? Then grab your cape and mask because one school on Auckland’s North Shore is looking for a superhero to lead them.
Specifically, one who is dressed in black and has a Batmobile.
After principal Deborah Heasman stood down in November, students at Northcote Primary School were asked what qualities they wanted in a new school head.
Among a range of inspired answers — such as “rainbow hair” and “gives sweets and cuddles” — one child said they wanted their new principal to be “like Batman”.
“We all liked that. We thought: that’s awesome,” said Louise Clarke, who sits on the board of trustees at the Decile 9 school.
“We thought it reflected the culture of the school and our kids.”
So the board included the description in its advertisement for the role.
“Our students want their new principal to be funny, friendly, caring, organised and ‘like Batman’,” the vacancy reads.
And they intend to measure applicants against those criteria, Clark said. “We’re only just in the advertising process at the moment, but we are thinking of asking the candidates to explain how much like Batman they are,” she said. “Your approach to that question might tell you a lot about the person.”
Other suggestions from the children were more in line with traditional qualities that staff and parents were looking for, Clark said. “For example: organised, respectful, encourages fitness and sport, cares about learning.
“Two kids said: ‘Has Northcote Primary School values’, and that’s important because that was something that our community and our staff said as well. Our school has very strong values and we want someone who lives those values.”
No costume necessary though.
Applications close February 24