FORMER Galen Catholic College deputy principal Shaun Mason will take on the principalship at the Wangaratta school from term two in 2025.

Mr Mason is currently principal at Benalla's FCJ College, a role he has held for three-and-a-half years, and will complete term one at FCJ while that college works towards appointing a new principal.

An acting principal will be appointed to serve Galen for term one.

Prior to his time in Benalla, Mr Mason was deputy principal at Catholic College Wodonga, and at Galen, where he worked between 2014 and '16.

He will step into the position soon to be vacated by Darta Hovey, who has been principal at Galen since 2022 and is currently transitioning to the role of deputy director of mission and educational development at Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL).

Kate Fogarty, CESL executive director, said Mr Mason was an experienced and well-known principal within the Sandhurst Diocese, and was currently co-chair of the CESL Secondary Principals' Network.

She said he had exhibited to the appointment panel "a sincere humility regarding his capabilities, coupled with a strong desire to serve the Galen Catholic College community".