Scots College is 500 metres down the road from Cranbrook which itself is just another 2km away from Ascham.

Despite the obvious temptation of a more lucrative career around the corner with institutions likes these, Michael Jones committed more than four decades of his career in education to teaching children in the east’s public sector.

In the week since his sudden passing at age 64, former students teachers and members of the wider community have credited Mr Jones with turning Bondi Public School from an embattled institution of 70 students to the thriving school community of more than 500 today.

During his 12-year tenure he was never far away from the headlines, whether it be from banning the word easier or offering popcorn only to children whose families paid their fees early.

One parent remarked Mr Jones “got a laugh” out of the coverage.

In 2007, when he took over the school, things were in dire straits and Bondi Public was on the verge of collapse.

However since 2011, the school’s NAPLAN results have consistently been above the national average.

Last year, the school scored substantially above the national average in six out of the 10 categories.

It has never scored below average since 2011.

“Before Michael we had a small and very supportive school of some 70 children which sadly many people feared was not sustainable,” Christopher Zinn said.

Mr Zinn was a parent representative on the board that hired Mr Jones in 2007.

“There were rumours the department wanted to sell off the land which discouraged many parents who loved the atmosphere of the place from coming here,” he said.

“But Michael with his infectious energy and determination arrived and focused on raising educational standards and turning BPS into a powerhouse, which bought not just a few families back into the fold but hundreds.”

Leaving behind a legacy of that will hold the school in good stead in the years to come, Mr Jones’ family has asked for donations to Bondi Public instead of flowers to remember the maverick teacher.

A champion of public education, Mr Jones taught at Woollahra and Glenmore Road public schools before BPS, despite the plethora of private schools where he would have commanded a bigger salary.

At Bondi, he was revered as a head who got things done, successfully ousting department of education from a building on school grounds to make way for another classroom and lobbying the state government for more space.

But it was only later in life that he became politically active.

Just two days out of hospital, Mr Jones was helping a friend campaigning on election day - Kerryn Phelps.

“Michael has been a close friend of Jackie’s and mine for several decades and we are heartbroken by this loss,” the former member for Wentworth said.

Mr Jones’ family will hold a private service next week while Bondi Public School will be holding a memorial