Miss Hayward, Waitati School principal, will take the reins of Dunedin North Intermediate at the start of term 3.
She is replacing Ross Leach, who is retiring in July.
Becoming the first female principal of a Dunedin intermediate had been a long-held ambition, Miss Hayward said.
''When I was in my second year teaching, I used to do the intermediate schools' music festival, and I had to update the programme and there was a list of male principals - Mr, Mr, Mr - and I remember thinking, 'There's no Mrs here'.
''I was with a group of people at the time and I said: `Where are all the Mrs' and they said `There isn't one, there's never been one'.''
She said it was interesting to note that despite the teaching profession consisting predominantly of women, it was led mainly by men.
''If you go to a teachers' convention, it's 90% women, 10% men. But when I stepped into leadership, the first conference I went to, I looked around the room and went, `Wow - where are all the women?'.''
While she was proud to be the first female principal of an intermediate school in Dunedin, she downplayed its significance.
''A couple of people have asked me why it is so important for a woman to be in this job, and I've said frankly, it's not.
''It actually makes no difference at all. There are plenty of really great male leaders around and plenty of great female leaders around.
''We need a good teacher or a good leader, regardless of whether they are male or female.''
Miss Hayward started her 16-year teaching career at the former Macandrew Intermediate in South Dunedin, and rose through the ranks to become deputy principal before taking on her first principal role at Waitati School five years ago.
She said it was with sadness she was leaving Waitati School and she would miss the community atmosphere most.
''I've really understood what community means. Waitati has been amazing.
''They pick people up and include everyone. It's an amazing little place.''
However, she was looking forward to the challenges ahead.
At this stage, she had no plans for major change at the school, and said she would spend the first 12 months ''just settling in''.
''At the moment, I just want to have a look at what's going on, hear what people love, hear what the non-negotiables are ... and go from there.''
