Head of Bermuda's first senior secondary school, Ernest Payette, has arrived on the Island.

And Mr. Payette -- who came from Belleville, Ontario, with his wife, Carolyn, two weeks ago -- has already begun seeking deputy principals for the school at Prospect.

He could not be reached for comment yesterday. But chairman of the interim senior secondary school board of governors Garry Madeiros told The Royal Gazette Mr. Payette was settling in well.

Since one of the 46-year-old Canadian educator's first priorities was to find three deputy principals for the school, Mr. Madeiros said Mr. Payette will be busy working on deputy principal applications.

The selection process, he added, will include the Ministry of Education and the school board.

Mr. Payette, who has been offered a three-year contract, has close to 20 years of experience in education.

He has served as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, vice principal and principal.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette in July, Mr. Payette said one of the reasons he was attracted to the $80,000-a-year local post was Bermuda's plans for inclusive education.

"What you're doing in Bermuda is consistent with what they are trying to do in North America, the United Kingdom and Germany,'' he said.

"But the Island has a much clearer vision of inclusive schools which we believe is going to the way of education in the 21st century.'' With a background in science, Mr. Payette was appointed curriculum coordinator of maths, science, and technology for Hastings County Board of Education in Canada.

He was given responsibility of developing new integrated technology courses in the area.

Noting that there was a growing need for people to be literate in computers and technology, Mr. Payette said 250 of the 1,100 students at Trenton High School, which he headed, were adults between the ages of 21 and 45 who were returning to school to upgrade their skills to keep up with job demands.

The rest of Trenton's student body were youngsters between the ages of 14 and 19.