by PETER OWENS
The current principal of St Peter’s College in Gore, Kate Nicholson, has been appointed as the new principal of Kavanagh College in Dunedin.
The previous Kavanagh College principal, Tracy O’Brien, died earlier his year.
Mrs Nicholson, who has been the principal of St Peter’s since
2014, after joining the college staff in 2011, will be the first female principal at Kavanagh, where she starts in September.
Before taking up a senior position at St Peter’s College in 2011, she had taught in secondary schools in Wellington, Otago and Southland.
Before taking up teaching, she was educated at Villa Maria College in Christchurch and, after study at Lincoln University, graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Horticultural Science.
She followed this with study at the Christchurch College of Education where she gained the diploma of teaching (special needs) at that institution. Her teaching career began at Gore High School in 2003.
Since her appointment to the role of principal at St Peter’s College, Gore, Mrs Nicholson had been elected as chairwoman of the Southland Rural Principals’ Association
and the Eastern Southland Kāhui Ako support principal.
Kavanagh College board of trustees chairman Trevor Thomson said Mrs Nicholson had led significant change in curriculum, in the development of contemporary teaching
practices and in the effective, balanced use of digital technologies.
“Her skill set is underpinned by her strong, inclusive Catholic
faith and by her commitment to social justice and action. She will be able to build on the work of the late Tracy O’Brien in enhancing the supportive and positive environment at the college.”
Mrs Nicholson said she was looking forward to the move to
Dunedin.
“I have truly enjoyed the privilege of leading St Peter’s College, and after many years of raising a family in Eastern Southland, my family and I are looking forward to making Dunedin our home.”
Reader Interactions