WelCom November 2024
Julie de Boer, St Pius X School
St Pius X School in Titahi Bay is delighted to have Dr John Young join the school as its new principal. John was welcomed to school with a pōwhiri in August.
He brings over 30 years of experience as an education leader, mostly from within the Wellington region including as principal at St Anne’s in Newtown, St Teresa’s in Karori, and St Joseph’s in Upper Hutt.
Dr Young has also had stints leading schools in Libya and Australia. ‘My wife Anna and I returned to New Zealand in September last year, after working in Aboriginal Education in Australia for the last 12 years. It’s been a great experience, but I am excited about the challenge of this new role,’ he said.
John spent the first two terms of the year as acting principal at St Joseph’s school in Taihape. ‘It will certainly now be a shorter trip from home to work in Porirua,’ he says.
Board of Trustees presiding member Geoff Hayward says he is thrilled with the appointment. ‘We see this as a positive tohu for us as we start a new chapter at our school,’ he said.
‘No school can grow without the nurturing of those whose leadership and experience is valued, and as we confront the new challenges ahead we know John will do a great job for our tamariki, kaiako, kaimahi, as well as the broader communities within the Bay and beyond.’
Dr Young was raised in Christchurch, which has left him a passionate love of rugby and a devotion to the Crusaders, ‘even with this season’, he says.