The 57-year-old has spent the past 34 years at Queen's High School in Dunedin as a mathematics teacher, assistant principal and deputy principal, apart from a four-year interlude working for Education Support Services at the University of Otago.
''Queen's High School is the only school I have taught at and I certainly attribute my development and leadership skills to Queen's and to the time I spent working for Education Support Services.
"I will be forever grateful to Queen's High School for the amazing grounding and leadership opportunities given to me there.
''I am now ready to take on the role of principal.''
Although she has only taught in a girls' school, Mrs Sim said she was looking forward to returning to the co-educational setting she experienced in her own education at The Taieri High School.
She said Tokomairiro High School's former principal, Wayne Edgar, who died in an accident at Hamilton on January 14, left the school in very good heart, which she hoped to build on.
''Wayne's strategic planning was one of his strengths and the school has very strong development plans in place.''
She believed pupils and staff should feel valued, safe and challenged, and building relationships based on trust and respect was key to providing the environment.
''I believe that fostering relationships with the wider school community is a key factor in the success of a school and I see this as an important part of my role.''
She believed in communication with parents and ''taking every opportunity to meet members of the school community; for example, supporting students at co-curricular activities; being available to talk to parents at school events; attending local community activities.''
Being part of, and contributing to, the local community in a semi-rural school like Tokomairiro was very important, she said.
After living in Andersons Bay for many years, Mrs Sim said she and her husband were moving to Milton.
''We have always thought of Milton as the place to stop for petrol on the way home from Central Otago, but we are now looking forward to learning more about, and becoming part of, the Milton community.
''As the locals say, it is the town of opportunities.''
