George Street Normal School principal Rod Galloway was presented with a Woolf Fisher Fellowship for 2009 during school assembly.
He received his first Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 1993 for his work in music education.
"I'm very honoured to receive this on behalf of everyone at the school," he said.
Woolf Fisher trustee Dr Nigel Evans flew from Auckland to present the award. He described Mr Galloway as "the sort of visionary that Woolf Fisher wanted".
The Woolf Fisher Trust was established in 1960 to provide overseas study and travel for outstanding school principals and teachers.
Mr Galloway will visit schools in North America and the United Kingdom over 10 weeks next year, to study leadership.
He will also spend 10 days at Harvard University in the United States.
