New principal appointed for high school

July 29th, 2015

Ex-Motueka High School student John Prestidge has been appointed the new principal of the school, beginning in term 4.

John, aged 45, is currently one of three assistant principals at Nelson College and has also taught at Tapawera Area School and Taihape College.

Reaction on Facebook has been positive, with scores of 'likes' and comments like "Very awesome guy" and "Great choice" from young people who have been taught by him and "Gonna miss him" from parents of Nelson College boys.

John captained Motueka High School's First XV, earned an A bursary and is married to Sharon Prestidge, who he met at school.

His current leadership roles at Nelson Boys are in the academic curriculum and international students, and he teaches English. He was also a recent school parent.

As reported in the Nelson Mail, John was one of three short-listed candidates who presented at the school last week. The trio were put through their paces by the school's student council and senior leadership team and presented to the school staff.

John told the Mail he was "very excited about the opportunity. I am inheriting a school in very good shape and it is a huge responsibility for me that I just don't maintain it but that it grows in student achievement."

He lives in Ruby Bay with his wife who is the deputy principal at Mapua School. He has two adult children, one of whom attended Motueka High School, as well as two younger children, one at Nelson College and the other at Mapua School.

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