Cooper, Carter, Chloe, Connor, Colby, Catherine . . . any principal new to a school is challenged to remember hordes of new faces and names.

Although that task is nigh impossible when the student population is almost 400, newly appointed Fairfield School principal Deb Logan is already well on her way to knowing each beaming young face by name.

After 33 years of teaching, mostly at schools in the Horowhenua area, she has developed her own memory techniques, visualising a letter first that can then lead to a full name.

“I don’t always get it right, but I’m getting there,” she says.

Incredibly, she can also remember the names of some parents she has taught over the years.

Whaea Deb started as principal of Fairfield School at the beginning of this term, taking over from Alisdair Maclean, who has left for overseas.

Deb (Ngāti Huia) was born and raised in Ōtaki and grew up on a farm, attending Waitohu School and Ōtaki College before studying for her teaching degree. Since then she has taught at schools in Paraparaumu, Foxton, Taihape and Ōtaki, and was principal of Manakau School for the past nine years.

“Fairfield is like a super-sized Manakau,” she says. “There’s a strong sense of community, and I see that with the gala last week, bringing people together to make it a success.”

Deb was proud of her time at Manakau, which included complete restoration of its historic building, and many infrastructure projects.

She also serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Horowhenua Volunteer Brigade, hence the appearance of fire trucks at the Fairfield School gala last week.

She is simply passionate about children and their education.

“I’ve come to the realisation that I am here to serve, and I’ve got more to give in this space,” she says. “We have a dedicated team here at Fairfield School that works hard to create and support programmes designed to help our students succeed – whether on the sports field, in the classroom, or in how they relate to one another.

“It’s a joy to see our students actively engaged in their learning, expressing their creativity, and sharing their ideas and aspirations for the future.

“They demonstrate respect for themselves – mana motuhake, for others – manaakitanga, and for the environment – kaitiakitanga, which are our school’s core values.”