St Catherine's College appoints new Principal:- Katrina Kerr-Bell

Tēnā koutou

The Board of Trustees is delighted to announce the appointment of Katrina Kerr-Bell to the role of Principal of St Catherine's College.

Katrina is currently Assistant Principal at Kavanagh College, Dunedin's co-ed Catholic secondary school. You can read more about Ms Kerr-Bell in the introduction below.

Following Steve Bryan's resignation last year, the Board of Trustees surveyed the school community – parents, caregivers, students and staff – to ask what qualities they wanted in the new Principal, what was important for the school and for its future direction.

Ms Kerr-Bell is devoted to education, to her Catholic faith, and to reaching out across cultures to understand and value each person and help them to succeed.

We look forward to welcoming her at the start of term two.

Ngā mihi nui

Emma Richards

Board Chair

Katrina Kerr-Bell: An introduction

Tēnā koutou katoa, ngā mihi mahana kia kōtou. Mālō e lelei, Talofa lava, Kia orana.

Ko Katrina Kerr-Bell tōku ingoa.

It is my honour and privilege to be appointed as the Principal of St Catherine's College. I am coming to join this community from Dunedin where I am Assistant Principal at Kavanagh College. I am married to Richard and we have two children, Emily who is beginning at Otago University this year and Ted who is in Year 11. They are of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kuri and Te Rarawa iwi.

The experience I have gathered in my kete to bring to St Catherine's comes from my work as a Specialist Classroom Teacher, Head of Department, Primary Principal, Dean of Māori and Teacher of Religious Education. I have had the privilege as part of my role at Kavanagh to work closely with the Māori and Pasifika communities, always striving for young people to be proud of who they are, where they come from and supporting them to have the pathways for the future open to them.

My Catholic faith is a source of strength and comfort that I enjoy being able to share with those I work with.

Catherine McAuley believed that education was the way to change lives, to create opportunities and to change society through having educated women motivated by the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

I love the energy of young people, their willingness to challenge thinking, their openness to learning. It gives me joy to be a part of their formational journey as they transition from childhood to adults of influence and change. The young people of today, more than ever, have a concern and a passion for the planet and upholding the human dignity of others. It is an honour to work with them and follow who they become as adults. Young people are full of hope for a better world and I know it is a gift to be a part of the extended whānau, helping them grow and create that better world.

Kia tau te rangimārie - God's peace and blessing upon you.

Katrina Kerr-Bell

MEd, BEd, DipTchg, CFLE