Long-serving deputy steps up into the big seat
Florida Park High School appoints former deputy as new principal
With a grounded sense of duty and patient humility, the opportunity to fulfil one’s calling will come.
After a long wait exacerbated by a global health scare, Florida Park High School are proud to announce the permanent appointment of their new lodestar, Quinten Poley. In his fifteenth year at the school, the deputy principal who started out as Head of Department in the Life Sciences faculty is ready to take his place in the Parkies hot seat.
Once completing his studies at Rand College of Education, the Eldorado Park native began his journey some 30 years ago taking up his first teaching role at Eldorado Park Secondary, before a short spell at St Barnabas College in Bosmont. In 2006, he would step through the historic gates on Petunia Street, never looking back. “Parkies is my life, my home. The minute I walked in I fell in love with the school, I fell in love with the ethos,” said the measured principal.
Quinten has been sharing acting-principal duties with Mrs Matlhare, who now slides into the deputy principal role. “There has been a great synergy between the two of us. She has been incredibly supportive and it has always been such a pleasure working together,” said Quentin, who described his new formal position as an immense responsibility.
Deeply invested in the success of his school, he is eager to tackle the challenges of leading the school into the post-coronavirus era and building learners capable of contributing positively to society. “We are not going to rush things but we have a conscious turnaround strategy. It is not based on fancy words but empirical targets. We not only have to increase the matric pass rate but increase the numbers who do so with a bachelor’s pass. It is about quantity as well as quantity,” he envisioned.
Central to this vision is his inner mantra and his strong personal bond with God. “We will lead by example. We must be humble, be patient and be kind,” he says with heartwarming sincerity. Appreciative, he acknowledged what really matters, saying “I need to thank my wife and children. Without them, I would never be where I am now. I am humbled to be a servant for this community.”
