Janelle Eason, 42, is taking over the role after the previous principal, Lindy Cavanagh-Monaghan, retired last year from the Tapanui school.
This will be Ms Eason’s first position as principal after 15 years spent at Northern Southland College, where she finished as the head of the science department.
Ms Eason grew up in Tuatapere on a sheep and beef farm, attending Tuatapere Primary School and Waiau Area School before boarding at St Peter’s College in Gore.
Ms Eason said it was there she first met the person she would eventually succeed at Blue Mountain College.
"It was there that I was taught by Lindy, the previous principal here. I think if you live in Southland, you have ties around a lot of places.
"That’s the thing I like about it — small rural living. There’s separate communities but actually it’s one whole community," she said.
Ms Eason attended the University of Otago, gaining a bachelor of science and a master’s in zoology, but said she never had any intentions of following a career in academia.
"My sister was a research scientist, and I thought ‘oh, that looks pretty cool’. Science has always been my jam and I thought I’d like to do research.
"So I did a master’s and very quickly found out research was not for me."
She had done tutoring and teaching laboratories at university, and after some encouragement from a friend, interviewed for teachers college.
Ms Eason said it was not a promising idea at the time.
"Not that I didn’t like school, but I just thought I’d moved on. But she convinced me to interview, they said yep, so I did my post-grad diploma and the rest is history," she said.
Ms Eason said teaching young people at such a critical age was a privilege.
"I think the thing about high schools is you’re teaching students at a point where they are becoming adults.
"They’re making massive decisions and learning a lot about themselves and to be there for that journey is quite special," she said.
Now Ms Eason is in only her second job in the teaching field.
"It’s a completely different kettle of fish. I think part of the reason I moved into senior management and then principalship is I like to be able to effect change for the school and students.
"What better place to do it than the place where most of the decisions are made?"
Ms Eason said although she was now in the driver’s seat for the school, she understood the importance of patience in her new role.
"The education system itself is constantly in a state of flux. There are lots of new initiatives and curriculums, which on their own is a massive job for a school to embed into their teaching.
"But I think change for change’s sake is not necessarily the right thing. It has to be what’s best for the community, what’s best for students."
Ms Eason said she was grateful for her new role, and was excited about the year ahead.
"I feel really lucky to have been welcomed into a school that feels like home. The students are just typical country kids."
