We would love to get to know you. Please post a short introduction and take the time to read other people’s introductions too. Networking and connection is a really important aspect of all our leadership programmes and one way to start this off is to comment on other people’s posts.
Kei ōu ringaringa te ao
The world is yours.
14 Responses
Kia ora Koutou Katoa,
Welcome to all of you to the AP/DP programme for 2026. Emma and I are really looking forward to working with you all and facilitating a positive networking experience between yourself and the other educational leaders on the programme. We think that we have arranged a really challenging and engaging professional growth journey for each of you.
We are just onboarding the final couple of delegates, but the majority of you should have received an introductory email from me and an initial communication trying to arrange our first face to face coaching session later this month. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if this has yet to happen through my email grant@gcla.co.nz
For our first catchup, our digital Hui at 930am on Friday March 13th, before the meeting we are looking to put you together into groups of 2-3 delegates,to discuss online a number of focus questions prior to the actual Hui day. The theme of this first collaborative session will be a discussion from a school context of the famous Peter Drucker quote ‘ culture eats strategy for breakfast’. We will be in touch soon indicating who will be in your discussion group, their email and contact details and the focus questions that you will expected to have discussed before we get together on March 13.
In the meantime I hope that your term is going really well.
Kind regards
Grant Lander
Kia ora everyone,
I’m Kirstin Anderson-McGhie, one of two DPs at Matua Ngaru School in Kumeu, Auckland. I have been at Matua Ngaru for 8 years and am one of the few remaining establishment staff at our school. During those 8 years, we have had 3 principals, and I also spent time as an acting principal in between principals 2 & 3. This has meant that I have learnt a lot about establishing a new school, supporting a team through periods of transition and an awful lot about change management/leadership. It’s certainly been a dynamic time of learning and growing.
I originally began my teaching career in the early 90s, and have taught up and down the North Island, in a variety of schools: rural, urban, small town, low/high socio-economic, traditional and flexible learning spaces, well-established and new.
In my current role, I oversee the Year 5-8 area of the school, international students (which is new this year), EOTC, English/Literacy, duty rosters and the ongoing juggle that is release and relievers, amongst many other things.
I’m at a point in my career where I am trying to decide between being the best DP I can be or taking the leap into principalship. I’m looking forward to exploring the different modules and growing as a leader, so that I can decide which path to follow.
On a personal note, I am married with one son, who is 29, married and living in Chicago. We have 2 very active cocker spaniels and 2 cats who were both rescue kittens. In my spare time, I am a reader and a gamer.
Looking forward to getting to know you all.
Kirstin
Welcome, Kirstin. You have been through quite a journey and learned a huge amount along the way, I’m sure. You won’t be the only one who is not quite sure about the best next step to take and I know our kaiārahi are brilliant at supporting you through this process.
Kia Orana
I’m Lee Pirini from Southland Girls’ High School in Invercargill. We are a school of approximately 1100 students ranging from Y7 – 13. Which makes it interesting in this time of educational change, curriculum and NCEA assessment at the same time – the double whammy.
I’ve been an Assistant Principal for 8 years with responsibility for Reporting, Assessment, Timetable and Academic tutoring. This year have added to my role picking up some of the DP responsibilities while our DP is the Acting Principal. These include Curriculum, PGC and staffing allocations.
I’m looking forward to broadening my depth and knowledge in key areas of leading schools that have not been in my portfolio, and am excited about the prospect of us being able to tailor this mahi to our specific areas of interest and need.
I’m a wife and mother of two young men who are living their best lives in Dunedin and Christchurch while finding their paths, thus giving us the opportunity for a bit of travel – so that’s on the horizon.
Ngā mihi
Lee
Great to have you on board, Lee. It is so common for a DP to not be exposed all the aspects of princialship they might like to be. I’m sure the programme will be helpful in this respect.
Kia ora Koutou,
My name is Tonia Fenemor, and I am the Associate Principal at Leamington School, a vibrant primary school of approx 500 learners in the beautiful Waikato town of Cambridge.
I am thrilled to be undertaking this AP/DP leadership journey alongside my colleague and good friend, Leesa Cooper. Our path here began at last year’s Growth Culture Leadership Summit. I am a big fan of collaborative leadership and feel very lucky to work in an environment where professional coaching and growth is so deeply ingrained. I’m especially grateful for a Principal who champions a growth mindset, providing the coaching and development opportunities that have shaped my leadership so far.
Outside of school, I live in Cambridge with my husband. We have two grown children aged 19 and 21, and our cat Cammie. We enjoy spending time outside, travelling to beautiful places around New Zealand and overseas, I agree with Sara – I think travelling is my favourite thing to do too!
I can’t wait to get to know you all and see where this leadership journey takes us.
Ngaa mihi
Tonia
I think you will get such a lot out of the programme, doing it alongside your fellow DP, Tonia. It sounds like you have a wonderful principal too!
Kia ora everyone,
My name is Leesa and I’m currently the Deputy Principal at Leamington School in Cambridge. This term I’m stepping into the Acting Principal role while our principal is on leave, which has been a great opportunity for growth and learning. Tonia (our AP/Acting DP) is doing this course alongside me, which is fantastic. We love working closely together and feel this will benefit us both individually and collectively. We have been privileged to work with a principal who values developing leaders within our school, so have had some great opportunities along the way, including attending the AP/DP Summit last year.
I’ve been at Leamington for 14 years and feel very lucky to be part of such a special kura. We have fantastic children, a dedicated staff team, and a supportive community. It’s a place I genuinely love working in.
Outside of school, I live in Cambridge with my husband and our cat Rusty. I’m a bit of a homebody and love nothing more than curling up with a good book at the end of the day, if I’m awake enough!
I’m really looking forward to connecting with you all, learning from your experiences, and growing as a leader over the course of this year.
Ngā mihi,
Leesa
Welcome, Leesa! I’m glad we can walk alongside you while you take on the acting principal role this year.
Ahiahi mārie!
I’m Renee Clouston at Karetu School, located all the way up in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We are a little ‘bush school’ of 78 tight-knit children & teachers who are proud to belong to our kura.
I’m in my 13th year of teaching and although my AP/DP experience is lacking (due to the size of our school & opportunities available) I’m taking steps toward a leadership role. I look forward to what this program has to offer, as well as meeting people who are on their own leadership journey.
On a personal note, I am a mother to 2 children aged 11 & 9, and wife to my husband of 13 years. And I probably shouldn’t forget our 2 dogs & 1 cat, plus the 50+ children I manage for our local rugby club!
I look forward to connecting soon,
Renee Clouston
Great to have you on board this year, Renee!
Kia Ora tatou,
I’m Sara Baker, Deputy Principal at Milford School in Auckland. We have around 600 students at the end of each year, but we are actively trying to decrease the roll. As a point of difference, we are an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school. This provides us with an excellent framework for the revised curriculum implementation.
I have been at Milford School for over 20 years, moving from Scale A, to Team Leader, to AP, and then DP. I really enjoy what I do, and this year in particular is exciting and challenging for a variety of reasons, including my portfolios of Curriculum Implementation, and Assessment and Reporting. I’m also the PYP Coordinator for our school, and an IBEN workshop leader in the Australasia area. In the IBEN role, I lead IB workshops in other countries for schools, regions etc.
I love the idea of this Aspiring AP/DP course driving meaningful change for myself, our school, students, and families. It will be amazing to work with other leaders and the kaiarahi; so much can be learned when we collaborate and inquire.
On a personal note, I have two daughters aged 27 and 18, and I live on the North Shore of Auckland. We have a cat named Dilly, and a horse called Steve. My younger daughter and I visited my elder daughter over the recent long break, in Scotland, where she and her husband are doing their OE. I think traveling is my favourite thing to do!
I look forward to meeting you all.
Sara Baker
Thank you for your introduction, Sara. How brilliant that you have had so many opportunities through IB to grow outside the school you have been at for so long – best of both worlds!
Kia ora koutou katoa!
A very warm welcome to all the delegates enrolled in this year’s APDP programme. We know just how demanding the world of education is right now, so I truly admire your commitment to this learning alongside your busy roles.
I am really looking forward to meeting you both online and in person, and I’m confident you will find this journey incredibly worthwhile. By way of introduction, I have been involved in educational coaching and professional development since 2013, joining the Growth Culture team in 2021. I’m a primary-trained teacher, and in my last full-time role as Deputy Principal, I was tasked with helping to turn around a school in crisis — which was great leadership PD!
I find a huge amount of joy in watching leaders grow in both capability and confidence. We have seen Growth Culture programmes reinvigorate beleaguered leaders, help people reach their career goals, and drive meaningful change within kura. I can’t wait to see what this cohort achieves.
Ngā mihi nui,
Emma Kingston.