“I think, in my 45 years of teaching, I've had a very rich and varied career, and I feel very fortunate to have had this one amazing vocation”.
Sonya Hockley is putting down her books after serving in the top job at Auckland Point School for 17 years.
Under her leadership, the 92 pupils are “flying in the gate” each day and never queue at their classroom door to bolt when the bell rings.
Spruced up classrooms and children succeeding academically, socially and emotionally will also be held in high regard by her school community once she officially leaves the principal’s desk on 19 April.
Sonya found her calling in the early 70s after teaching Nelson kids to swim.
She learned the ropes in Auckland, before a one-year OE became 16 years teaching and holding senior leadership roles in London, where she also met her husband Craig at a pub.
He would later join her staff at Auckland Point as a learning support assistant.
Returning home to Nelson in the early 2000s, she was deputy principal (DP) at Auckland Point for four years before her promotion to principal in 2009 was “a real honour”.
“It has had its challenges, but it's also been full of rewards, and I have had much satisfaction from this role,” she rejoices.
“When we enrol a child we enrol all of the whānau, so that we are a family school and everyone can feel that they belong, but also that people will listen and be there to support when they need it.
“We've grown in terms of its culture, the feel and tone of the school, and our APS way guides our everyday life.”
Her education commitment has extended well beyond the school gates.
Sonya has been Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust’s principal trustee and volunteered on the NZEI Te Riu Roa Principals’ Council.
She has her gold card, but Sonya insists she is instead leaving her beloved kura for “rewirement”, and will be a relieving principal at a Northland country school for two terms before pursuing Justice of the Peace and celebrant roles.
“I've been very connected to this job, it has been my life, it’s in a really good place, and I feel it's time now for another person to take it into the next era,” she says.
“In February next year, the school will be 100. There'll be lots of celebrations for the centenary, and it's an exciting time for a new principal to be part of all of that.”
Justin Neal succeeds Sonya at the beginning of Term Two following seven years spearheading Appleby School.
