Head of Junior School

Suzanne Brewin - MEd Admin (First Class Honours) | DipTchg

Suzanne Brewin is the Head of the Junior School at Diocesan School for Girls. She sees her role as ensuring all girls view themselves as successful learners, from the time they begin their education in the Foundation Centre until they graduate to the Junior High School and beyond. She has been in this role since November 2008.

In 2004 Suzanne was awarded the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association/Auckland Savings Bank Travelling Fellowship. She spent six months in the United States conducting research and visiting a range of schools and universities. Her dissertation was: The contributors to success in raising student achievement - the Principal’s role.

Suzanne is also a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she attended a summer school with a range of educators from across the globe. Her area of study was titled: Educational Leadership: An evolving vision.

"We encourage all students to lead balanced lives and to find the joy in all that they do both inside and outside the classroom."

Educational Leadership

Throughout her career Suzanne has held a range of executive positions on the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association, the Remuera Principals’ Association and was seconded as a member of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation to organise and run an international conference in Auckland.

She gained extensive experience while contracted to the Ministry of Education as Advisor to Principals and then as a Mentor Principal to both new principals and principals’ groups across a range of areas in Auckland.

Philosophy for success

We assist the girls to explore who they are by engaging in a wide range of different activities. Dio girls build strong, positive relationships with teacher mentors, take intellectual risks with their ideas, build leadership skills, and cultivate their passions. Not only do we engage with the students throughout her time in the Junior School, but we also view her journey as a partnership with her and her family.

Visitors to our school often remark how happy and friendly Dio girls are. We also hear that they are unusually poised and stunningly confident. To my mind, the most important aspect is the competence underlying that confidence. Regardless of her background, talents or plans for the future, Dio girls gain mastery of core competencies essential for the next step of her education and eventual success in the world.