St James’ student, St James’ teacher, St James’ principal.

Aniket Deb Roy, who will take over as the principal of his alma mater St James’ School in June, is a “teacher first”.

“I still teach at St Thomas’ Day School and that is the only way I connect with the children and that is the way I get an idea of the grassroots problems. I am passionate about teaching,” Deb Roy told Metro on Thursday.

Deb Roy, now 42, had joined St James’ as a student in Class I and completed ISC from the institution in 1995. A postgraduate in mathematics, he went to St Xavier’s College and started teaching part-time at St James’ while he was still in college. A teacher had gone on leave and he filled in.

“It was an on-and-off stint as and when the school required me because I was an old boy of the school. That’s how I actually developed an interest in teaching. I joined St James’ as a full-time teacher in 2002,” Deb Roy said.

He taught maths, English and environmental science at St James’ till 2006, when he went to Dubai to join the now Gems Modern Academy.

Asked about his new role as principal of St James’, he said: “It is a very nostalgic feeling. It is like a homecoming. I have grown up at St James’. I’ve spent a major part of my life in St James’ and have learnt a lot from the school. I think this should be an opportunity to give back to the institution from where I have got so much,” he said. “St James’ is a very good school and I must ensure that I maintain the standard.”

Deb Roy returned to the city from Dubai in 2014 as the vice-principal of Assembly of God Church School, Purulia. The next year he took over as the principal of St Thomas’ Day School.

He was told about his new assignment on Thursday morning and has been flooded with calls from his former students at St James’ ever since. “It is a nice feeling. I have been able to connect with so many of them. They have tracked me down and called me up.”

Deb Roy is expected to take up his new assignment from June 1, going back to the school where he has seen the tenure of three principals — John Mason when he was a student, Daryl Bloud both as a student and as a part-time teacher and Terence Ireland, the current principal, when he joined full-time.

“I have learnt a lot from all three of them.

“I will always cherish very fond memories of my time as a teacher in St James’ under Mr Ireland,” he said.

Beyond academics his interest lies in theatre and creative arts. He has directed three musicals, Jungle Book 1 and 2 and Madagascar, for students. “I have been part of a St James musical as a student and as a teacher, both on and off stage,” Deb Roy said.