New principal 'overwhelmed' by reception

New Dunstan High School principal Reece Goldsmith begins the first week of the school year. Photo by Jono Edwards.
New Dunstan High School principal Reece Goldsmith begins the first week of the school year. Photo by Jono Edwards.
Dunstan High School's new principal hopes to empower pupils and bring ''positivity and enthusiasm'' to the position.

The Alexandra school started the first week of the year with Reece Goldsmith (49) at the helm, replacing Brent Russell, who was in the role for seven years.

Mr Goldsmith was previously the principal at Mackenzie College, Fairlie, for three years and was deputy principal at Mount Maunganui College, in Tauranga, before that.

He loved it at Fairlie, but thought it was time for a ''bigger school, and with it, the bigger challenges'', he said.

''The school's roll is growing. It'll likely end up being more than 560. That'll mean managing larger groups of pupils and staff and the community groups will be on a much larger scale.''

His style of leadership was one of ''positivity and enthusiasm''.

''You need people to feel empowered. Both the staff and the pupils.''

He did not like to make generalisations about the pupils, but semi-rural environments often led to positivity and ''wholesome values'' which should be celebrated, he said.

Mr Goldsmith had links to the region through studying at the University of Otago and previously teaching physical education at Queenstown's Wakatipu High School.

''Through that I would often come over here for sports events and conferences. I love Central Otago, from its biking to climbing and rivers.''

His sons, Thomas (11) and Oliver (10), and wife Kira, who was a keen walker and biker, were ''loving the move'', he said.

He was ''overwhelmed'' with the welcome he received from the community.

''At the same time there is an expectation of me, so I can't let people down.''

Coming into a new area, he did not know everything, so would be consulting with teachers, pupils and the community, he said.

Mr Russell was Dunstan's principal for seven years, but will now become an education consultant after 25 years as principal at Otago and Southland schools.

Mike Corkery will remain acting principal of Maniototo Area School until a permanent replacement is found for Patsy Inder, whose resignation was announced last November.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement