However, she is certain the jitters will melt away once the school term starts next week.
The 36-year-old has spent the past decade as deputy principal at Macandrew Intermediate, and is now looking forward to putting her own stamp on the three-classroom school at Waitati.
For a start, she will no longer be called Miss Hayward by her pupils.
"I will just be Heidi - not Miss Hayward.
"I'm into formality when it's appropriate, but times have changed. I want to relax some of the conventions in schools."
During the next 12 months, Miss Hayward plans to modernise the school, update its information and communication technologies, establish and lead the new New Zealand curriculum in a way that ensures an holistic education, and in general she hopes to make the school the centre of the Waitati community.
She did not deny the size of the school's roll was a concern. Since 2003, it had declined from 93 to 39 pupils.
"My challenge is to make the circumstances work for the community so that parents will leave their children here at school, rather than choose to send them over the hill to town schools.
"It's about making the school the heart of the community."
Miss Hayward said she had been spoilt working at Macandrew Intermediate. Together with principal Whetu Cormick, the staff had created an innovative style of education.
"Whetu allowed us as staff to be visionary about education. He's willing to look at things outside the box.
"I'm looking forward to implementing some of the education initiatives I've learnt from Macandrew."
While she was sad to be leaving Macandrew Intermediate, Miss Hayward said she was delighted to be starting a new chapter in her life, and believed it was "an amazing opportunity" to further her leadership skills.
