Matthew Jackson recently stepped into bigger shoes – or gumboots – as Kaimai School’s new principal. He’s twelve days into the role, having embarked on his new chapter at the beginning of Term 4.

Kaimai School has a roll of 68 students from Years 0 to 8, four teachers, and two teacher aides. But small numbers doesn’t do the rural school justice, said Jackson.

But small, rural schools are what Jackson loves – his last post was principal at Piripiri School in the King Country. Before that, he was a teacher and team leader at Te Kauwhata Primary for four years and before that he taught at Jean Batten School in Mangere, Auckland, for three years.

Jackson said when you start any new role “the focus is on making connections and building relationships with staff, students, and families”.

To do that, he’d been walking around the school more, “trying to be out and about, not get stuck in the office too much”.

Mahlia Meldrum 7, Principal Matthew Jackson, Lincoln Marshall 8 and Edward (Teddy) Jackson 8. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Last Saturday, Kaimai School hosted their annual gala and agriculture day. “That was an amazing opportunity to get out, meet with some families, and see the students in their element with their animals.”

He said some students come from families involved with agriculture, but he enjoyed seeing those who aren’t experience agriculture for the first time.

Jackson’s previous experience as principal of a small, rural school means he’s been able “to get a solid grasp on all the fundamentals of running a school”.

“Working in smaller schools has prepared me well for this new challenge, and there will be challenges with it, but I’m looking forward to tackling those.

“Because even a small school has the same admin requirements and back office work that a larger school does.”

Edward (Teddy) Jackson 8, Kaimai School Principal Matthew Jackson and Lincoln Marshall 8. Photo / Brydie Thompson

He said Kaimai School was comparatively larger than Piripiri, so it was nice to work with more people.

“That gives me opportunities to focus a little bit more on the bigger picture, the strategic plan for the school. My mantra at the moment is approaching everything with a little bit of curiosity.”

His overarching goal was to make the school the best it can be for the students. “Providing learning and educational opportunities in a safe environment,” he said.

But his bigger picture, long-term intentions were to sustain and grow the school, making it the community’s “rural school of choice”.

Jackson also wanted to celebrate what made Kaimai School different from other, larger schools in the area – that rural aspect and small, community feeling. “Just making it the place that families and students want to be.”

Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.