New Kakaramea principal Shannon O'Brien has Taranaki pedigree

New Kakaramea School principal Shannon O'Brien speaks at her welcome ceremony.

Kakaramea School's new principal, Shannon O'Brien, and the school's new pupils were welcomed with a powhiri last month.

Ms O'Brien replaces long-serving principal Andrew Retallick who is now principal at Lepperton Primary School.

Prior to taking up her new role, Ms O'Brien was deputy principal of Toko School in Central Taranaki for nearly eight years.

"It is a special school that will always have a place in my heart," she said.

She has taught throughout Taranaki at Puketapu School, Hawera Intermediate School and initially Rahotu School.

"I also spent a two-and-a-half year stint teaching overseas in London."

Ms O'Brien said she feels "uniquely positioned" and "very privileged" to be the new leader of Kakaramea School.

"It is such a vibrant and humming wee school and I am looking forward to meeting and starting to make connections with the current students, new students, their parents, friends of the school and the wider school community in general."

The school Board of Trustees arranged for Ngati Ruanui iwi leader Syd Kershaw and a group of representatives from Pariroa Marae to welcome Ms O'Brien and new pupils and family with a powhiri.

The school has been pleased to welcome a principal with local knowledge and understanding as well as good education skills.

"Shannon brings with her proven classroom expertise with strengths across a wide range of curriculum areas, and extensive leadership throughout her teaching career," said Kakaramea School Board of Trustees chairman Gabriel Marcroft.

The school was one of a few in the region to lose power and water last week but it was back up and running for a school trip to see the Americana cars in Patea on Friday.