Columba College principal’s surprise resignation
COLUMBA College in Dunedin has lost its second principal in less than four years.
Juliette Hayes quit the top job last Friday.
The school community was shocked yesterday morning when her resignation was announced by the college’s board of governors chairman Doug Hill and board of trustees chairman Ray Anton.
‘‘After much careful consideration and reflection, Mrs Hayes has decided to resign from her position in order to spend more time with her family, and to pursue further doc toral study,’’ the boards said in a media statement.
‘‘It was Mrs Hayes’ intention to undertake study during a sabbatical. However, she has made a decision to pursue this on a fulltime basis.
‘‘Mrs Hayes very much enjoyed her time at Columba and will miss the students and staff.’’
Both boards thanked Mrs Hayes for her contribution to the school and wished her all the best.
The boards said they had full confidence in Columba’s ‘‘highly professional staff’’ to continue to provide a high quality and supportive learning environment for its pupils.
The boards declined to answer further questions.
Mrs Hayes succeeded former principal Elizabeth Wilson, who retired at the end of 2014.
Miss Wilson was Columba principal for 34 years and one of New Zealand’s longestserving school principals.
Her retirement came in the wake of allegations of bullying of staff.
The senior management at the school was investigated by the Post Primary Teachers’ Association in 2013, following the allegations.
The board of trustees said Miss Wilson and the school’s senior management had the board members’ ‘‘unqualified support’’, and the board tried to work through areas of concern with the PPTA.
The PPTA’s reports described an environment of ‘‘fear, intimidation and poor and autocratic management, and a stifling of innovation at the school’’.
During the past year, rumours were rife Mrs Hayes was also falling foul of some staff and parents at the school.
Former board of trustees chairman Steve Addison stood by Mrs Hayes. He was chairman of the board which hired her as principal.
He said it was ‘‘a difficult task’’ for anyone to come into a school and make cultural changes to a regime created by one person over three decades.
‘‘During my time as chairman, I think that Juliette performed extremely well.
‘‘Coming in as a new principal, to a very traditional school which had the same principal for 30odd years, I think she performed extremely well in that environment.’’
Mrs Hayes was unable to be contacted yesterday.
Mr Anton said deputy principal Jenness Riethmaier would be acting principal for the rest of this year, by which time it was hoped a replacement would have been found.
Ms Riethmaier said the resignation was a surprise to many at the college.
Rather than controversy, she believed it was purely about Mrs Hayes looking for worklife balance.
‘‘It’s a hugely demanding job being a principal.
‘‘She has two daughters, and to go and spend more time with her family and devote time to completing a PhD, is totally understandable.
‘‘I support her desire to get worklife balance.’’