Sacred Heart College has a new primary school principal, Mark Potterton.
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Potterton is not so new to Sacred Heart community as he has taught there in the late ’80s.
“Being a principal at Sacred Heart for me is coming home. I taught in the school for four years. Even after leaving the school I have always been involved in other ways,” said Potterton.
He has been in teaching for 29 years and has loved every moment so far.
Also read: Top achievers at Sacred Heart College
“I have always loved teaching because of my teachers. They made me want to join the profession and make a difference. My primary principal was my role model and inspired me to be a teacher,” said Potterton.
He said returning to Sacred Heart is exciting for him because he will be making a difference in the children’s lives.
“Sacred Heart is a special school. It’s diverse and always looking for innovative ways of learning and as a principal, I’m proud to be part of that,” said Potterton.
Before joining Sacred Heart, Potterton was a principal at Holy Family College in Parktown.
He has written books on education and contributed to quality assurance debates in the country.
He was also a director of the Catholic Institute of Education for six years.
He has initiated work in inclusive education, early literacy, health screening, school evaluation and school improvement while working as a director of the Catholic Institute of Education.
In 2010 he worked part-time with the Minister of Education to establish the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit for two years.
His doctoral research was in the area of school violence.
He also has served on a number of boards including the IEB and IQQA. Potterton brings vast experience with him.
“I look forward to working with younger children at Sacred Heart College and promoting outdoor education.
“I believe that as the world becomes more multicultural and multi-religious, a greater understanding of, and respect for diverse ways of living, is needed,” said Potterton.
He said if teachers are not engaging with children in class they can easily lose them.
“The rate of technological, environmental and social change will require new ways of learning that will require our pupils to be lifelong learners and to deal with the rapidly changing world. In this changing world value has been placed on the ability to problem-solve, innovate and create new knowledge,” said Potterton.
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