Youngest female principal under NZEI in charge of Bridge Pa School

Bridge Pa principal Rebecca Skerman with Ngawari Tumanako (left), Maia Ropiha and Southon Spooner. Photo/ Duncan Brown.

The principal of Bridge Pa School is currently the country's youngest female principal under the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa.

At just 26 years,Rebecca Skerman accepted the role of principal after completing her masters in Maori Education and Achievement at Waikato University last year.

"I have always wanted to be a principal but didn't think I would get the opportunity this early on, so I am so lucky that it has panned out this way."

NZEI comprises the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services.

Bridge Pa School in Hawke's Bay currently has 45 students from years one to eight and is about 98 per cent Maori.

The former Woodford House student said it had been a great place for her to start out as a leader of a school and after going in with no expectations was loving it.

"I think it is really cool that I can make decisions that positively influence the kids on a wider purpose outside the classroom."

Prior to the principal role Ms Skerman was a teacher at Waterview Primary School in Auckland for three years and was an art teacher at Elmhurst School for Boys in Croydon, England.

At Bridge Pa Ms Skerman teaches a classroom for two and a half days a week and fulfils her principal role for the rest of the week.

She said it was good doing both as it meant she could sit in meetings and get the support for the students but also meant she could sit in class and be with the children.

"I miss the kids when I am not in class and I love being able to work with them and find out what they want for the school as they often have some really good ideas."

One of these ideas, which came from the older students, was getting a Chromebook.

"I think it is really important talking with them about what they want instead of making assumptions."

Ms Skerman said the Bridge Pa community was another positive of working at the school as parents and staff were all really supportive and interested in their children's education.

"They are so welcoming and the school has got really good kids. The staff knew that I was a first time principal and they have been really good in letting me learn as I go."

One of Ms Skerman's aims for the school was to allow the children to get the same opportunities, if not better as everyone else.

"Whether it be get a team entered for Mathletics or in a sports tournament I want them to have the resources so they can succeed at the school and beyond."

Ms Skerman in the future hopes to continue working in Maori education with the end goal of keeping more Maori boys between 10 and 14 in school or on some sort of academic pathway.