Former Principals

Discover the legacy of Cedar Girls' School through its former principals, who shaped its values, identity and programmes across the decades.

Last updated 13 August 2026

Former Principals

Former principals of Cedar Girls' who have led the school from one era to the next.

Black and white photo of a woman in a light-colored blouse sitting at a desk, looking slightly to the side.

Mrs. M. N. Oehlers (1957-1958)

As the first Principal, Mrs Oehlers laid a strong foundation for the School. She also gave the school its enduring motto “Honesty, Perseverance, Courtesy” and designed the distinctive uniform that is the pride of Cedarians today.

Black and white portrait of an East Asian woman with short dark hair wearing a floral top.

Mrs. P. C. Tan (1958-1976)

The longest serving Principal in Cedar Girls’ history, Mrs Tan oversaw the growth and development of Cedar Girls which forged the unique Cedar identity of self-discipline and unwavering fortitude. Under Mrs Tan’s leadership, the school become known for her academic excellence and sporting prowess.

Older woman with short curly dark hair wearing a blue necklace, looking forward.

Mrs. Niva Dutt (1977-1983)

Mrs Dutt introduced many initiatives with the aim of nurturing all-round students. 1977 also saw Cedar Girls being recognized as one of Singapore’s top 20 schools, a testimony of the school’s success in providing an excellent educational experience.

Older Asian woman with short dark hair wearing a dark top, shown in a close-up portrait photo.

Mdm Tan Chen Choo (1984-1996)

Mdm Tan oversaw the modernizing of the school with the completion of the new school building and facilities. In 1992, Cedar Girls became a single-session school. In 1993, Cedar Girls become one of the Top 10 secondary schools and an autonomous school which allowed the school a provided the school with the flexibility and opportunities to infuse more rigour into its programmes to nurture and challenge the capabilities of every Cedarian.

Asian woman with short black hair wearing a red jacket, formal portrait with blue background.

Mrs Tay Sor Har (1996-2000)

In recognition of the importance of the role of teachers in the education of Cedarians, Mrs Tay put in place a roadmap for the professional development and training for staff at Cedar. The Home-School-Link was also established to nurture a strong partnership with parents in the joint effort to develop Cedarians.

Smiling woman with short dark hair wearing a light blue collared shirt, posed for a portrait photo.

Ms Susan Leong (2001-2005)

Building on the strong foundation, Ms Leong identified the strategic thrusts of the school in the domains of academic value-added, character development and staff development which brought the school to greater heights.

A woman with short black hair wearing a blue shirt, labeled Mrs Ou Yang Geok Cheng.

Mrs Ou Yang Geok Cheng (2006-2012)

Under Mrs Ou Yang’s leadership, Cedarians took on a global outlook with the expansion of overseas immersion programmes and innovative use of IT in teaching and learning. In 2010, the school moved into its new renovated campus with enhanced facilities to support the wide range of programmes offered. In 2012, in partnership with Victoria School and Victoria Junior College (Victoria-Cedar Alliance), Cedar Girls became a dual track school offering both O-level and Integrated Programme. The availability of these two tracks means that all Cedarians were given the opportunity to blossom and realise their fullest potential under an education programme that best suit their learning needs.

A smiling woman with short black hair and cream glasses wearing a blue linen shirt stands outdoors near trees.

Ms Cheng Hwee Yeang (2012-2019)

Ms Cheng saw through the full implementation of the Victoria-Cedar Alliance (VCA) Integrated Programme, providing students with a curriculum that develops them into social innovators and passionate learners. The VCA partnership was deepened and joint events such as the SG50 celebrations were held regularly. Cedar also celebrated the important milestone of its 60th anniversary, where stories from various alumni over the years were consolidated to form Our Cedar Story. Under Ms Cheng’s leadership, Cedar emerged as a dual track school of choice with all round excellence. In 2017, the school also launched the Center for Social Innovation as a nexus for social innovation, to inspire, create and share practice that will instill a mindset and disposition towards innovative practices for social causes. In line with this, the school also became the first school to introduce the Direct School Admission for Social Innovation in 2018.

A smiling woman in a blue sleeveless dress with a brooch and glasses stands on a red running track.

Mrs Chan-Tey Kah Hwee (2020 – 2024)

Mrs Chan took over Cedar Girls’ during the global pandemic, guiding the school with calm assurance and prioritizing staff and student well-being. She led Cedar through a time of rapid educational change, advancing key MOE initiatives such as PDLP, Blended Learning, and CCE 2021. In response to the evolving VUCA world, she refreshed Cedar’s curriculum with signature programmes like Social Innovation and Research, Talent Development, and ASEAN Studies. Working closely with staff, she strengthened the school’s culture of care and enhanced support for diverse learners. Her leadership also saw upgrades to the library, foyer, and General Office, and the creation of new spaces such as the Calm Room and ASEAN Room to nurture 21st-century competencies.