Meet the Tumuaki 2024

Tena Koutou Katoa,

My name is Marcus Cooper and it is my great privilege to be appointed Principal/Tumuaki of Geraldine High School from 2024.

My personal vision of education has been shaped by the experiences I have had, and the people I have worked with, over the last 20 plus years in education.

I have been fortunate in my teaching career to have travelled the world with stints in South Korea and England. I have worked in small rural schools such as East Otago High School and South Otago High School. I have worked in large coeducational schools such as Taieri College and Dagenham East Comprehensive School. I have also had the privilege of working at Oxford Area School where I got to work with students from the beginning of their schooling until the end. I have worked with some amazing leaders that I have been able to learn from, which have helped shape my own leadership style.

The best schools I have been a part of are ones where the staff, students and families feel a sense of belonging to the place. They are proud of the school and community and work hard collectively to make it the best school in the district. Relationships are the cornerstone of this. Developing relational trust with the staff, students and whānau will be at the top of my priority list as I enter the school in 2024. I will be getting out and about in the community, being as involved as I can, to meet as many people as possible to get a feel for the school and wider community.

I will be working very hard to ensure that student outcomes are at the centre of all decisions that are made at the kura. Our job as educators is to ensure that the students get a broad curriculum that meets their needs in a world that is changing exponentially. We, with families and the wider community, will all share the job of raising great young people.I have high expectations of myself and the staff I work with. Most importantly, I have high expectations of the students. I want to help create a school environment that promotes personal excellence for all students. This excellence will look different to every student but the effort and determination to reach personal excellence should be universally promoted.

I am looking forward to being part of a team that inspires and empowers our students over the coming years and role modelling the school values of Manaakitanga, Rangatiratanga, Whanaungatanga and Whakatutukitanga which sit closely with my own moral purpose in educational leadership.

I will be moving to Geraldine at the start of 2024 with my young family. My three children will all be going to Geraldine High School. Maddison Year 10, Charlee Year 8, and Libby Year 7. My wife Kate is looking forward to being part of this great community in a wonderful part of the country. We are all excited to explore the outdoor activities that are on offer on Geraldine's doorstep.

See you all real soon.

Ngā mihi nui,

Marcus Cooper