Angela Mitchell has been named the new associate principal of Ashburton College.
It is a step up from her current position as a deputy principal, and a newly re-created role.
She starts in term three.
“We haven’t had an associate principal for a long time, so I think the role will evolve over the first two or three years as we see how it can be a support to the operation of the whole school,” Mitchell said.
The new position was expected to lighten the day-to-day load for Ashburton College principal Simon Coleman and allow him to focus on promotion and school curriculum objectives.
‘‘Simon is busy pursuing opportunities here in Ashburton to better our school, but he also has connections and commitments in the wider New Zealand educational sector.
‘‘My role will allow him more time in both these areas which will ultimately benefit Ashburton College,’’ she said.
Mitchell said Coleman was driven to ensure all students could see their pathway within the school, and to provide opportunities for diverse options across the school community to support those pathways.
“That may be university or going into an apprenticeship or further training in another area. Our building and construction project is one example of that vision coming to fruition.”
Having been a student there herself and then moving back to Ashburton with a young family, she admits the school holds a special place in her heart.
“I’m really passionate about curriculum and teaching and learning. I love coming to work and working with the students and staff,” she said.
“It’s a great place to come each day. I think our school is a really vibrant, diverse, exciting place to be and it gives you energy being part of it.”
Mitchell is going into 15th year of working at the college, and had a wealth of teaching and management experience.
She started as an economics teacher in 2011 and picked up more responsibilities over the years including as dean, as as a support for new graduate teachers, as a specialist classroom teacher.
She then was head of faculty for social sciences for seven years, before her current role as deputy principal.
