St Patrick's College has found a replacement for former principal John Crowley.
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Former deputy principal Steven O'Connor will take over the role at the beginning of the 2021 school year.
Currently Head of Senior School at Strathfield's Saint Sabina College in Sydney, Mr O'Connor said he was "thrilled and humbled" to receive the opportunity.
Mr O'Connor was deputy principal at St Patrick's from 2007 to 2008, and has since held roles at schools in Albury and Bathurst.
A history teacher, who has also taught religious education, English, and music, he said he was looking forward to returning to Ballarat.
"I'm very aware that it's a school with a wonderful heritage and history, and has a fine reputation among the Ballarat and Victorian community, and now amongst the Edmund Rice Education Australia network," he said.
He added he wanted to bring "optimism" to the school.
"Whether they're high-flying academically or more vocationally-oriented, it's important for schools to get to know each student as individuals, find out strengths and weaknesses, and work out how to support them," he said. "That's what I've learned (as a teacher and principal) - the depth of knowledge teachers can develop about their students can inform their practice, which improves outcomes for the student."
The announcement from Edmund Rice Education Australia followed the shock exit of Mr Crowley in February - he took up the beleaguered position of St Kevin's College headmaster, in the wake of a child grooming scandal at the prestigious Melbourne school.
Before then, he had steered St Pat's through one of the most difficult phases in its history, but was widely lauded for his work with sexual abuse survivors.
Mr O'Connor paid tribute to his predecessors for the work they had done to build the community at the school.
"I'm mindful that I'm stepping into pretty large shoes, and the people who've gone before me in that role have done a magnificent job," he said.
"John Crowley's wonderful commitment to serving the college and navigating it through challenges was great testament to the character of the man, I acknowledge and respect that, and prior to that, Dr Peter Casey did a wonderful job in terms of lifting the school as the college's first lay headmaster.
"I'm very mindful the people who have gone before me have made enormous contributions to the Ballarat community, but in particular St Pat's, and I'll be working very hard to make as significant a contribution."
Current acting principal Stephen Hill will remain as Acting Principal until the end of this school year.
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