Bathgate Park School principal Whetu Cormick is to take up to two years' leave from his role at the South Dunedin school, to take on duties as president of the New Zealand Principals' Federation in Wellington.
Mr Cormick said he had been federation vice-president for the past year and was recently voted president.
He would move to Wellington at the end of this year to take on the role.
``What normally happens is you can stand for one or two years.
``Since I was voted in, I've had a bit of positive pressure from people within the organisation, to stand for a second term.
``It's for continuity - to be able to sustain the work that I'll do in the first year.''
If he is voted in as president again next year, he will not return to Bathgate School until 2019.
Mr Cormick said the president's job was a full-time position which would leave no time for him to continue his principal's job.
Mr Cormick said Bathgate Park School deputy principal Katrina Robertson would become the school's acting principal.
The board of trustees had given him leave for up to two years.
``I'm really excited about it.
``It's going to be a great opportunity to support our almost 2200 members.
``They are principals from primary, intermediate, secondary and area schools around New Zealand.''
Mr Cormick said one of the first issues he wanted to tackle was the Education Act update.
``It's going to be the biggest piece of work in the coming 12 months.''
