Diocesan teacher takes on top role
Six years ago Matt Coleman got married at the Taranaki school he loves – now, he’s leading it.
Coleman has taken up the role as principal of the Taranaki Diocesan School, previously St Mary’s Diocesan School, after teaching there for 12 years.
‘‘I’m excited, that’s for sure, that’s the word that sums it up the best,’’ he said.
The qualified physics teacher’s move into the new role at the allgirl school has been swift – he had less than two months to prepare and only spent one morning with this predecessor Fiona Green before she left.
Green has moved to Christchurch to care for her sick mother and although she only left two weeks ago, Coleman had a trip to UK planned that he couldn’t let go.
He only had a week to prepare before school started back, but he’s feeling confident about the year to come.
There’s only one thing that making him a little nervous – ‘‘I haven’t had time to think about all the things I don’t know, or that I don’t know I don’t know.’’
It’s been six years since he and wife Katie tied the knot in the school chapel, and had their reception out the front lawn.
Coleman said they decided on the venue because he was so passionate, and committed to the school – and still is.
‘‘It was a super special day.’’ Coleman’s career didn’t start as a teacher. He moved from New Plymouth to Canterbury at 26 ‘‘with this dream of becoming an engineer’’ but quickly found his love for physics.
He moved back to Taranaki and started teaching physics at Stratford High School, before becoming the head of science at the diocesan. ‘‘Over time, I’ve done a lot of different things here.’’
Despite spending 12 years at the school, the father-of-two said he’s never got ‘‘stale and stagnant’’. And he still pursues his love for physics – this year he’ll be juggling his new role with teaching a level 3 class.