Alumna Merita – Past principal Gail Thomson honoured for services to education

AN extraordinary

EDUCATOR

In September, former Diocesan principal Gail Thomson was honoured at the Alumna Merita Assembly. Gail was deputy principal at Dio for seven years before serving as principal from 1993—2003. Her commitment and contribution to the education sector was acknowledged in 2014 when she received a New Zealand Order of Merit. In her capacity as a consultant and commissioner, Gail has worked with schools of all year levels and deciles.

Gail Thomson’s extraordinary contribution to improving the systems that help young people to learn extends beyond Diocesan to New Zealand and the world. She is truly a groundbreaking educator who has helped change the learning journey of many thousands of students. When Gail took charge as principal, Dio had an excellent academic reputation, but the facilities were a little tired and outdated. The buildings were draughty, the corridors echoey and the ambiance was more institutional than hospitable. So, Gail worked with the Diocesan School Board to develop a master plan for the modernisation of the School’s facilities – a subject that underpinned the thesis for her master’s degree. As a result, during her tenure as principal, the Junior School was replaced, the Science Building was doubled in size, Shrewsbury was extended, and the Centennial Building was opened.

A new Dio emerged – the school we know today, with its world-class facilities. It happened because of the relentless focus of a woman who was deeply invested in a better future for Dio.

The School is justifiably proud of its Anglican heritage. There were many other Anglican Schools throughout the country but there was no connection between them. Gail worked with the Bishop and discussed the possibility of establishing an Association of Anglican Schools so there could be positive interaction between the schools. This was agreed to and the Association was initiated, a positive and supportive interaction among Anglican Schools. All these initiatives just add to the collection of foundation stones that keep Dio grounded and protect our legacy.

Gail has dedicated much of her life to fixing broken schools, making functional schools stronger, sharing best practices and fearlessly dismantling structures that do not work. She is a problem solver and a safe pair of hands to sort out all manner of educational challenges.

Gail with the Principal and past Board Chairs, left to right: Raf Otto, Bob Wilton, Gail Thomson, Heather McRae, Angela Coe.

Gail Thomson and Penny Tucker

ill daughter and her young family. She was then asked by the Minister of Education to do a review of schooling in Southland with the focus on the rationalisation of schooling facilities, a task she completed superbly.

A one-year secondment to Qatar followed, where she advised boards and principals on the restructuring of the Doha school system, gaining insight into different cultures in the process. Gail subsequently became involved in several education projects back in New Zealand. She was acting principal of Kadimah School for a period before being charged with reporting on the school’s future viability. Her recommendation, to transition Kadimah from an independent school to an integrated one, was accepted, and Gail is still gratified to see the current changes and potential growth for that school today.

She worked with the Muslim schools Zayed School for Girls and Al Madinah, using the experience she’d gained in Qatar. Gail was appointed commissioner of Glenfield College and later Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. Commissioners are usually installed when schools have issues that need remedying. It’s a hard job to balance fixing what’s broken with protecting a school’s culture and legacy.

During her tenure at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Sir Edmund Hillary’s former home became available to move from its Remuera site. Following discussion with the Ministry of Education, Gail actioned an application to shift the house to the grounds of the Collegiate and set it up as an educational leadership centre. Executing this vision and preserving the house as a piece of New Zealand’s national heritage took sheer resolve to raise the several hundred thousand dollars needed to move and relocate the building.

Gail’s next appointment was as Commissioner to St John’s Anglican Theological College. Former Governor General and leading theologian Sir Paul Reeves had recommended changes to be made at the college and Gail was charged with implementing these. The challenge was to unite the three tikanga at the college, Pa¯keha¯, Ma¯ori and Pasifika, into an integrated unit. appointments, Gail is still going. She’s involved in an array of projects and is on the boards of three charitable trusts, Hillary House Leadership Centre Trust, Fountain of Knowledge Trust, and the Auckland District Kidney Society.

“You hear the words ‘Ut Serviamus’ all the time,” says Heather McRae, “but it isn’t all that often that you have the chance to appreciate someone who has lived it, breathed it and passed it on. We are honoured to share Gail’s legacy and proud to award her the Diocesan Old Girls’ League Alumna Merita award for services to education.”

Left to right – Gail with past Dio colleagues Lorraine Pound, Sue Blakely, (Gail Thomson) and Merle Boniface.

Gail Thomson with her family

The above was adapted from the citation Principal Heather McRae gave at the Alumna Merita Assembly