She starts a new role as director of the Southland Teen Parenting Unit in Invercargill next year.
After a ‘‘health scare’’ and reflecting on how far the school had come during her eight years as principal, she knew it was time for a change, Ms Scott said.
Her new role involved working with teenaged parents to give them a second chance at education, something she was passionate about.
‘‘It felt right. It was a heart decision for me.
‘‘I’m scared stiff, but I’m excited by the challenge.’’
People who knew her agreed she was a perfect fit for the job.
‘‘I’m sad but I understand why,’’ a staff member said.
Breaking the news to her staff and pupils was the hardest part for her, Ms Scott said.
‘‘It broke my heart to see kids cry, to see staff upset.
‘‘I’ll really miss the kids. You build a relationship with these students that you hope lasts a lifetime. It’s the Christmas cards that I still get from kids that I taught 20 years ago.
‘‘I’ll remember the incredible staff. They are absolutely magic. They go above and beyond every single day for every single kid.’’
She would cherish the ‘‘magic moments’’ which happened at the school every day.
‘‘They’re not big things. They’re the little things.
‘‘I’ll remember kids walking in the door, giving you a huge hug and telling you their best and worst times.
‘‘They’re heart-singing moments. It’s about knowing you made a difference in the life of a child.
‘‘That is the reason I get out of bed every day. It’s the reason I work 60-hour weeks back to back, because I’m absolutely passionate about these kids.’’
She was grateful to the community for believing in her.
‘‘This community has touched my heart with their support and care and love. We’ve got a stunning community who back our school.’’
In her time as principal, the school’s roll had doubled.
It had gone from having just one permanent staff member to having ‘‘an incredible teaching team, who are student centred’’.
School-wide results were consistently above 80%, she said.
‘‘The school is a safe, happy, positive place for our students to be.
‘‘I’ve had the privilege of leading our school into this amazing position.
‘‘The school is ready for a new person and fresh eyes to come and bring their energy and take it further.
‘‘My wish for the school is that they have somebody who comes in and cares about the kids and the staff,’’ Ms Scott said.
The board of trustees has appointed Catherine Lewis as the new principal of Wyndham School. She leaves her role as deputy principal at Ruru Specialist School in Invercargill and begins her new role at the start of the school year.
- MICHAEL CURREEN
