A tale of two high school principals
Stratford High School is changing hands – from one Cantabrian who followed love to Taranaki, to another.
Principal of the past 10 years Philip Keenan is finishing up at the end of the term and handing over the reins to Inglewood High School deputy principal Cameron Stone.
Keenan has been involved in education for almost five decades and said he never set out to be a principal, it was about being in the classroom – he still teaches a year 11 maths class.
‘‘My aim was always to be the best teacher that I could be,’’ Keenan said.
The 68-year-old was originally from Christchurch, but taught in Picton before he and wife Deborah moved closer to her family in the North Island in 1985, settling in New Plymouth with daughters Rebecca and Katherine.
Keenan taught at Spotswood College before shifting to Stratford High School in 1993.
He can’t name a favourite memory or proudest moment from his years because there was so much to chose from, but he knew one thing: ‘‘I’m going to miss the kids.’’
Keenan is looking forward to having time to watch his four Inglewood-based grandchildren do the Weetbix Tryathalon, and ‘‘step back and smell the roses’’.
Stone, who has been teaching at Inglewood High School for the past 12 years, said the ‘‘time was right’’ for his change too.
‘‘I’ve always understood being a principal is a big job, but I’m looking forward to making a difference,’’ the 37-year-old said.
Like Keenan, love also brought Stone to Taranaki when he followed his wife to the province more than a decade ago.
Stone’s career choice was inspired by his sister, who was training to be a teacher at the time, as well as his love for sport and working with kids.
He moved from Canterbury to
Palmerston North to train and met wife Melissa there.
Unlike Keenan, Stone said he always loved the idea of being a principal because he wanted to oversee change.
Stone lives in Stratford with Melissa, who is also a teacher, 9-year-old twin daughters Ava and Milly, and sons Tommy, 7, and Harry, 5.
Moving to a new school wasn’t too hard of a call as he loves the Stratford community. ‘‘It’s an exciting opportunity to build on what’s already been done there.’’