New principal wants to unite school to its wider community

Raising the achievement levels of young Pacific people in Māngere is a priority for the town's newest school principal.

Samoan Geraint Tuiletoa Tagaloa is the first Pacific principal to be appointed at Māngere College since the school's inception 53 years ago, starting just over a month after the tragic passing of acting-Principal Fuatino Melegalenu'u To'alepaiali'i Ah Sam.

He told Pacific Mornings' William Terite that he would like to see the South Auckland institution become the school of choice for families. But to achieve that, he said he would need to unite the school with the community.

Watch Geraint Tuiletoa Tagaloa's interview below.

Prior to taking up this role, Tagaloa was deputy principal at One Tree Hill College and also worked at St Paul's in Grey Lynn.

During his pōwhiri, welcome ceremony, at Māngere, he said was ready to "serve our Pasifika people, our Pasifika community".

"Māngere is a wonderful community. It's a wonderful Pasifika community. I've had quite a few connections to Māngere College over the years through friends that have worked at the college. It was a role that really interested me.

"I think it starts with having those high expectations and just being relentless really in the pursuit of excellence."

He said being a principal also involved removing barriers, changing mindsets and connecting with the students' families.

He intends to build Māngere College's strengths and hopes his message of hope is welcomed in the community.

"A really big part of education and I think connecting with our community, and students and staff is important."

While he aimed to build on the targets already achieved at Mangere, Tagaloa said he understood school was not for everyone.

"Definitions of success for me is about positive pathways for all of our students. My brother's a builder, that was the pathway that he took. I celebrate his success just as much as I celebrate my sister who's a doctor.

"I think there are multiple pathways for our students and yes sometimes school isn't that pathway but I think it's about education. I think education, whatever form that may take, should be the pathway for every student.

"Thinking differently, defining success differently, because UE is one pathway, university is one pathway, but also trades and work as well."

He said educators need to "think outside the box".

"There are multiple pathways out there for students, and it's a matter of finding the right one for them so that they achieve success.

"Covid-19 has taught us different ways to approach education and I think it's about being courageous enough to make those changes where needed."

Tagaloa officially began his new role at Māngere College on 20 May during Term 2.