The vice-principals of both the La Martiniere schools will take over as principals from April 1.
The headhunt began a few months ago - after Lorraine Mirza retired as principal of La Martiniere for Girls (LMG) in August and Sunirmal Chakravarthi resigned as principal of the boys' school in October.
A shortlist of candidates was drawn up on the basis of applications and interviews were conducted before the board zeroed in on Rupkatha Sarkar and John Rafi.
Advertisements for the posts were put out in all national dailies covering at least 20 cities. Both Sarkar and Rafi had applied for the post and were selected on merit.
'The board found them to be most suitable considering all applications,' said Supriyo Dhar, the secretary of the La Martiniere Schools. 'They applied against regular vacancy and competed with all others.'
The induction ceremony for the new principals is scheduled for April 1 in the Lawrence Hall of the girls' school.
'The new role means greater responsibilities and working with a clearer vision. The vice-principal shares the vision of the head and board of governors but now I have the responsibility of having a vision and moving ahead and motivating my staff and students,' said Sarkar, who joined LMG in 2001 as vice-principal. She had earlier taught at St. Thomas' Girls' School, Kidderpore, and St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School.
Rafi, who was with La Martiniere, Lucknow, for seven years before moving to the city school in 2012 as vice-principal, is aware of the management's expectations and said he would continue to 'uphold the tradition of the school'. 'I will take steps to ensure that the staff is motivated and happy to teach. That will propel the boys to reach their full potential,' he said.
Rafi takes over from Chakravarthi, whose last day in office will be on March 31.
Sarkar, on the other hand, has been acting principal since Mirza's retirement in August. Asked if she had been expecting the new role, she said she 'was being groomed for a number of years to take leadership position... I was preparing myself'. She teaches biology in senior classes and will continue to do so. 'I have to be in class. Unless I teach, how do I understand my teachers and students?'
Rafi teaches physics in classes XI and XII.
