The new principal at St Hilda’s Collegiate School in Dunedin, Mrs Jackie Barron, has been formally commissioned.

Bishop Kelvin Wright and Dr Gillian Townsley, the school chaplain, led the service in St Hilda’s chapel yesterday.

“We have been blessed indeed to have her come to us as the leader of the school,” Bishop Kelvin said.

Mrs Barron has been principal at Woodford House, an integrated Anglican girls’ school in Hawke’s Bay, for the past five years.

Before that she managed the Silver Ferns netball team from 2005-09.

The professional opportunities offered by the role attracted Mrs Barron: “St Hilda’s is a strong, innovative learning community.”

She has strong family links in the south.

She attended Maori Hill Primary School and Otago University, and taught at Bayfield and Gore high schools.

She was deputy principal at Gore for six years.

“Along with my husband and father, I was delighted a contingent from Woodford House was able to attend (the commissioning service),” she says. “The service was beautiful.”

Mrs Barron is married and with two adult children.