New Principal For St John's

As you know the Board of Trustees has been searching for a permanent Principal for St John’s College. We are very pleased to inform you that after a careful search, Mr Shane Tong has been appointed to that position, beginning in January 2012. 

Mr Tong, a former old boy of St John’s College, is currently the Deputy Principal of Cambridge High School where he has played a major role in the senior management team in reviving the reputation and prospects of that school following its difficulties some years ago. He is very much a ‘St John’s boy’, being a former student and captain of the first fifteen rugby team and first eleven cricket team. He has a MA in English and History, and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership. With his new role as Principal of St John’s College, he will continue his education through the Certificate in Catechetical Studies which is offered in partnership between the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand and the University of Waikato School of Education. 

In announcing this appointment, the Board of Trustees would also like to acknowledge the leadership that Ms Peta Lean has provided for St John’s from the beginning of 2010. Ms Lean has been on a fixed term contract as Principal, the reason for which is the criteria spelt out in the policy of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference that only baptised Catholics are acceptable as permanent appointees for the position of Principal in secondary schools. St John’s College owes Ms Lean a significant debt of gratitude for her outstanding service to our community during this period.  

I trust you will join me in thanking Ms Lean for her contribution as Principal and in welcoming Mr Tong to St John’s in his new role as Principal in 2012.