LPHS principal retiring after ‘immensely rewarding’ time
LOGAN Park High School’s longserving principal will retire in July.
Jane Johnson has been principal at the Dunedin school for almost 18 years, and her retirement brings her 43year career in education to a close.
An email was sent to all parents, pupils and staff yesterday, informing them of her decision.
Mrs Johnson (67) said the announcement had been planned for some time, and did not come as a surprise to staff.
She said the leadership role had been ‘‘the pinnacle’’ of her extensive teaching career, the majority of which had been at Logan Park High School, where she had taught since 1978.
‘‘My principal’s role at Logan Park High School has been immensely rewarding.
‘‘I am confident that our kura is now in a stronger position as a result of our equitable learning support systems, our school values, our multiple learning and pastoral care support interventions, our targeted Maori and Pasifika achievement programmes, our continually improving NCEA results and our top academic performance in national and tertiary scholarships.
‘‘Equally, extracurricular and cocurricular awards have been exemp lary at local, regional, national and even international levels.’’
She said parental support had allowed staff and senior management to lift the performance bar so that all pupils were well supported, regardless of their abilities, background, engagement and achievement.
Mrs Johnson said Peter Hills would take over as acting principal from May 1 so she could take a board of trustees-supported sabbatical.
During the sabbatical, she would write up a pupil achievement research programme that staff and pupils had been involved with during the past three years.
She will officially step down as principal on July 7.
‘‘I look forward to tracking Logan Park students’ academic, cultural, sporting achievements and community participation during my retirement,’’ she said.
See Monday’s Otago Daily Times for a profile on Mrs Johnson and find out what her plans are for retirement.
john.lewis@odt.co.nz