Horahora School’s principal Shannon Buckle has found her happy place.
“I feel like this is the place that I am meant to be,” she said.
Buckle took the role at the beginning of this year, taking over from long-serving principal Joanne Synge, who retired in 2024.
She said her biggest aspiration for Horahora School was to make sure it was a place where every student felt they could shine.
Buckle grew up in Hamilton and met her husband, Mathew, at Fraser High School. They have lived on a lifestyle block in Cambridge with their children Grace and Josiah for seven years.
Buckle has a Bachelor of Teaching degree from the University of Waikato and has taught at Te Kauwhata College, Frankton Primary School, Hamilton Christian School and Berkley Normal Middle School.
In April she concluded her work towards her Master of Educational Leadership with the submission of her thesis, which focused on how to implement digital technology programmes effectively in New Zealand classrooms. Last week she received her result – an A grade, with a recommendation to achieve first class honours.
As a parent and teacher, she is still a fan of learning with pens and paper.
“There is a place for more traditional methods of teaching and learning, always, regardless of the tools that you have around you,” she said.
“But for me, the reality is that when digital technologies are used well, students can soar with their understanding of curriculum content.
Kirsty Steeghs, who was the school’s acting principal for two terms last year and is a member of its board, says “I think people assume there wouldn’t be much to do as a country school principal but the reality is that you have the same requirements as a big school, but no one to share the load.
“Shannon is incredible and I am in awe of the way she has stepped into the role and pushed the school to a new level.”
Shannon Buckle with students Ollie Saywell (left) and Mila Swanepoel.
