Girls’ High principal to step down
New Plymouth Girls’ High School principal Victoria Kerr has resigned.
The news was posted to the school’s Facebook page by board of trustees chair Ngaio Crook about 4pm on Friday.
Kerr was appointed as the principal of Girls’ High in December 2016, after former principal Jenny Ellis resigned.
Kerr took up the role in term one of 2017. Prior to that she was deputy principal.
Before moving to Girls’ High, Kerr was acting head of the English department at New Plymouth Boys’ High School and previously worked with Keele University in England as a tutor and mentor in the teaching department.
She also worked at King Edward VI High School as head of English, head of year and a teacher of English.
In the Facebook post, the board wished Kerr ‘‘all the very best in her future endeavours’’ and shared a statement on her behalf in which Kerr thanked the school for giving her the opportunity to be principal.
‘‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences and have been honoured to be your leader,’’ Kerr said in the statement.
‘‘I am proud of our achievements over the past four years. It is fantastic to see our strong student achievement, and the development of an innovative curriculum. I have truly appreciated the support of [the] New Plymouth Girls’ High School teaching and support staff.
‘‘I am pleased to be able to leave the school in a financially robust position with an increasing school roll and hostel enrolments. I’m sure NPGHS will continue to flourish into the future and be a leading school in the education of our young people. I wish you all my best.’’
The board will now support the school’s senior leadership team in the interim to ensure it continues to run efficiently and smoothly, the statement said.
It did not say when a new principal would be appointed or whether applications were being sought.