New challenge for Principal

Board of Trustees Chairman, Ross Millar, recently announced the appointment of a new principal for Otamatea High School.

Rachel Clothier-Simmonds has been assistant principal at McAuley High School in south Auckland for the past six years and will take up her position at the beginning of Term 3 in mid July.

Growing up in Bristol, England, Rachel moved to London to study, taking up her first teaching job in a north London school.

After three years learning the ropes she developed the travel bug. Her plan was to stay in New Zealand for six months but in that time says she fell in love with the country and all it had to offer.

After three months working on the Milford Track, Rachel began a job at Southern Cross Campus in Mangere, teaching there for five years gaining experience as a Dean and Head of Physical Education and Health.

In 2006, looking for advancement and a new challenge she accepted a position at McAuley High School, Otahuhu, as Head of Physical Education and Year 10 Dean. After a year at McAuley she was appointed as the assistant principal in charge of Behaviour Management and Pastoral Care.

In 2011 she completed the Aspiring Principals’ Programme which consolidated her understanding of the complexities of the role of principal, leading to another challenge and career step forward at Otamatea High School.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me and I’m very much looking forward to becoming a part of the Maungaturoto community and getting to know the students, staff and families at Otamatea High School,” says Rachel.

Otamatea has a number of forward-thinking and capable staff and pupils and has, in recent times, successfully undertaken programmes and projects considered well in advance of it’s country school status proving there will be some interesting times ahead for a well-travelled new principal and a school with a lot of spirit.

 “We are delighted with the level of support that the Ministry is able to offer new principals and look forward to having Mrs Clothier-Simmonds as the head of our school,” says BOT Chairman Ross Millar. “The process of selecting a principal is a long and exhaustive one but we are enthusiastic about the experience and energy that she brings with her.”