Sawubona, Vanakkam, Namaskaram, and Kia ora koutou katoa. I am Dillon Rungan, the new Deputy Principal at Auckland Normal Intermediate (ANI). I am a third-generation born South African Indian, and I moved to New Zealand when I was 15 years old. I bring 16 years of leadership and curriculum experience from the Normal School network, most recently serving as Deputy Principal at Epsom Normal Primary School for the last seven years. My core drive, “To be inspired by creativity, nurtured by the community, & empowered by strengths to be a critical problem-solver”, shapes my collaborative and professional leadership approach. I hold a Master of Education (Hons.) from the University of Auckland and have a strong focus on professional growth, with my thesis centred on Mentoring Middle Leaders in New Zealand primary schools. I have extensive experience in curriculum design, assessment, and reporting, and am committed to current, evidence-based teaching, such as the Curriculum Refresh.
I am enthusiastic about applying my deep understanding of the primary curriculum to the Year 7-8 environment andworking with the ANI team toward achieving the school’s strategic goals. I truly believe in celebrating successes, sharing the workload, and always keeping people at the heart of every decision. As a leader of learning, I particularly enjoy collaborating to create engaging learning opportunities for students, whānau, and staff. I look forward to forming and sustaining a strong partnership with the ANI School community. Please feel welcome to say hello when you see me around—I am looking forward to building new partnerships with the students, staff, and wider community.