NEW Mandurah Catholic College principal Andrew Watson says being approachable and authentic is the key to being a good principal.
Mr Watson joined Mandurah Catholic College this year after Kerrie Fraser moved to Perth to become the principal at Mercedes College.
He comes from John XXIII College where he served as the vice-principal.
He said he was looking forward to the new challenge of being principal.
Mr Watson said he was excited about taking charge of students from kindergarten to year 12.
“You are easily found out if you are not someone who really enjoys being in schools,” he said.
“You have to be present to everybody and want to be involved in the full life in what happens and what you do.”
Mr Watson comes from a rural background in the wheat belt, before he attended Trinity College in Perth.
He has worked at a range of schools including, Santa Maria, Newman and Trinity College and spent his teaching days teaching history, economics and political and legal studies.
“I want to provide a comprehensive and excellent holistic education,” he said.
“We are really looking at providing excellent learning opportunities inside and outside of the class.
“Everyone in the school is a learner, whether it be the principal, a student in the classroom, a teacher or admin staff.”
He said the school had a good name in the wider catholic community.
“There is a lot happening in this area; a lot of growth and development,” he said.
Although he has only been on the job for two weeks, he already has plans to entrench himself within the community.
“It is a great opportunity so you get to interact with other parts of the community and visit so many different parts of the school,” he said.
And just because he has stepped into the principal’s chair, doesn’t mean he will be stepping away from the classroom.
“I am very keen to be involved in the class as much as I can and work alongside teachers,” he said.
