Principals to share top job

They say two heads are better than one.

For the first time in history two principals have been appointed as president of the Rotorua Principals' Association, which connects 45 schools in Rotorua.

Lynmore School principal Lorraine Taylor and Otonga School principal Linda Woon will team up to take on the top job.

As president, the pair will be working with community groups and trusts who want to partner with local schools.

They will also help bring resources into schools, plan events and provide support and professional development for local principals.

"This is a job two people can do really well," Mrs Taylor said.

"During the last two years we have seen phenomenal change in schools, like Novopay and national standards, and all of it has increased the workload and stress on principals. So I think it is a job for two people."

Mrs Taylor said working in big primary schools meant Mrs Woon and herself had a bit more flexibility to help other principals in the area.

"At bigger schools you have deputies so we are slightly more flexible to get out and do some of that work," she said.

The pair were handed the role during last month's annual general meeting after Mokoia Intermediate principal Deborah Epp finished her two-year appointment as president.

Mrs Taylor said she had done an excellent job during the past two years.

Mrs Woon said they wanted to continue to provide events like RotoMaths and Sport Bay of Plenty events.

"Also, our own vision is to support colleagues and share good practice," she said.

Mrs Woon has been a principal in Rotorua since 1991, first at Kawaha Point then at Otonga Primary since 2007.

Mrs Taylor has been a principal in Rotorua since 2006, starting at Horohoro School then moving to Mamaku School and Lynmore Primary, where she has worked for the past 18 months.