Girls' college principal Pauline Cowens resigns

Tauranga Girls College principal Pauline Cowens is stepping down after 17 years in the role and 19 years at the school. Photo/John Borren

Tauranga Girls College principal Pauline Cowens has resigned.

The school's board of trustees announced the resignation today, saying it has "regretfully accepted the resignation" of Mrs Cowens.

Mrs Cowens' news comes on the heels of Aquinas College principal Ray Scott's resignation last month and Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell's resignation earlier this year.

In a statement provided to the Bay of Plenty Times, board chairwoman Megan Cleverley said Mrs Cowens' passion and dedication to education was evident "as there has been a steady increase in the success of our girls' academic results achieving above national results of other schools especially for our Maori students".

Mrs Cowens' resignation comes after 19 years at the school and 17 as principal.

"We would like to thank Pauline for her commitment to continual improvements for the college over this time.

"Pauline is also an active member of the community and has held numerous roles over the past few years, including community representative on the Historic Village review steering committee and advisory board.

"She was a founding member and chair of the board for the House of Science and is a long-standing member of the Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club. It was her initiative to develop the Chinese Community College that is located at Tauranga Girls' College, she has been a strong supporter of Asia connections and she is an active member and past chairperson of the Bay of Plenty Principal's Association."

Mrs Cowens will finish at the college in January 2018.

The board will start a recruitment process during the next few weeks.