When asked to describe herself, Betty Romeo was quick off the mark: "Passionate, high expectations, collaborative," she said.
It is the ideal fit for the new role that was up for grabs at the best school in the region.
Mrs Romeo is the new principal of St George Girls High School, Kogarah.
This is the first principal's posting for the young mother-of-two.
A former social sciences teacher and deputy principal of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, she was educated at Kingsgrove where she lives.
"The school community was hoping to have a new leader appointed and this is a wonderful opportunity for me," Mrs Romeo said.
"St George Girls is an outstanding high school, so to come into that is magnificent."
The selective school is among the top 20 academic performing schools in NSW. Its students usually blitz the HSC each year, with many girls achieving 90-plus in their university admission ranks.
To maintain the standard will be one of Mrs Romeo's main goals.
"It's always a challenge to maintain results, but there are always opportunities to look at what we can do better," she said.
"Academic excellence should transcend all areas. We can analyse data, but refining your practice is the constant journey.
"My initial goal is to start our three-year school planning cycle, which includes a community forum that will set the direction of where we're going.
"Parents are [also] a big part of our school."
NSW public schools will be supported to engage with their communities on a wider scale because of a new agreement between the state and federal governments.
Between now and 2017, public schools will get funding to help them engage with parents, the community and businesses.
Schools will receive an average of $9500 each under the plan.
Mrs Romeo said she wanted to create a resilient and confident student body.
"I want to be a role model for them so they have a pursuit for excellence, and take on leadership roles in the future," she said.
"I want to show them that if you work hard, you can succeed and have a career."
Mrs Romeo replaced Carole Knott who had been principal since 2003 before retiring last year.
"I was also young when I started, so I have absolute confidence in her selection," Ms Knott said.
"And the students think 22 is old!
"It's been a pleasure and a privilege to lead such a wonderful school with such incredibly talented students, supportive parents and such accomplished skilled staff," she said.
"I hope the school carries the philosophy of educating the whole girl, and ensuring all students' talents flourish, not just the academic."