Principal touched many lives
A much-loved former Taranaki school principal, who touched many lives through half a century of teaching, has died in New Plymouth.
Jenny Ellis, who died on Tuesday at Tainui Rest Home aged 69 after a long illness, led New Plymouth Girls’ High School (NPGHS) for 11 years and was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to education.
Her career, which spanned 48 years, began at Inglewood High School and ended as principal of NPGHS at the end of 2016.
‘‘When she first got sick the doctor said to her that she should go and do the big OE but all she wanted to do was stay teaching and teach the girls,’’ her brother, Allan George, said.
Daughter Lisa Nichol said her mother had drawn a lot of strength from her own mother, Mollie, who was a working woman when it was not as popular as it is today.
‘‘She believed in the theory of servant leadership,’’ she said. ‘‘She always saw herself as doing a service.’’
Jenny Ellis had also taught several members of her own family, including sister Sally Fabish and daughter Lisa.
She was loved by her students, even years after leaving Girls’ High, Lisa said. ‘‘They just think the world of her.
‘‘She’s been out of the school for so long but the people at NPGHS have been with her through this whole journey. They’ve been visiting her.’’
Sister Sally said Jenny was always a woman of style and class, and loved shopping for shoes.
‘‘She came home one day with two pairs of shoes and (husband) Bob said, ‘I think I’m married to a centipede’. She laughed.’’
Ellis also enjoyed tramping and would take her grandchildren out shopping and for a fluffy, and was a lay canon at the Taranaki Cathedral of St Mary.
She was in the Girls’ Brigade for 25 years, and also taught in England and Scotland, Ha¯ wera, Ohura, Invercargill, Matamata and Hamilton.
Her goal was always to become a principal, so a few years into her career she did an Bachelor of Business degree through Massey University, and later a Masters’ degree with First Class Honours in Educational Leadership from Waikato University.
Establishing the Wai Ora Wellness Centre at NPGHS was one of the things Ellis was most proud of in her career.
In 2012, she was awarded the Woolf Fisher Trust fellowship, which recognises educational excellence in teaching.
Applications are not accepted – instead the trust takes an interest in all schools and identifies educators based on both the school and the individual’s achievements.
NPGHS principal Victoria Kerr said she had been very lucky to have Ellis in her life as her boss, mentor and friend.
‘‘She was a tenacious character and really believed in women in leadership,’’ she said.
‘‘She was very professional but also a leader of compassion and good grace.
‘‘She would challenge and she would push you to be the best that you could be, but she believed in you and she would give you that support and encouragement,’’ Kerr said.