He started in the top job after spending eight years running Nambucca Heads High School.

Mr McKinney's career has taken him to Tumbarumba, Moree, and he even did an international stint in Singapore, spending six years working at the Australian International School and Singapore Ministry of Education.

After only a few days at the school, he chatted with the Argus on how he was tracking.

"It's going really well, there's lots of opportunities here in terms of the facilities in the school, and I can see a lot of possibilities around working with the students, the staff and the community," Mr McKinney said.

He said his ethos in regards to running a school is "all about improving the educational outcomes for all kids".

"My job is to create good humans that go out in the world and become good people, so that's my focus," Mr McKinney said.

"Every kid is different as to how they get there, some will do it through sport, arts, agriculture, language. It's about finding the niche for a kid to make them enjoy school, and then give them the skills and attributes to become good people in our communities."

He's a an avid Broncos supporter in the NRL, and West Ham United in the EPL - so hopefully the students don't hold it against him.

"Thanks to the Kempsey High community for the warm welcome and lots of people have dropped in and said g'day and I really appreciate it," Mr McKinney said.

"I look forward to getting to know everyone much better."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: