New Victory principal ‘right at home’

When Dan George saw that Victory Primary School was looking for a new principal, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I had my job notifications turned on for roles within the Nelson region and the job at Victory came up. I read the description and instantly thought ‘that sounds like me’.”

Dan has come from Parnell District School in Auckland, where he was a deputy principal.

However, the born and bred Cantabrian says it was always his plan to come back to the South Island, with his wife Rachel growing up in Nelson.

The father to four-month-old Archie is now three weeks into the principalship and says he already feels “right at home”.

Dan, 35, replaces Helen Taylor-Young, who resigned at the end of last year, after six years in the role, to recover from a continuing health issue.

The school was put under statutory management last year, with Glenda Rapley serving as the acting principal.

Dan was officially welcomed to the school with a pōwhiri on May 17.

“I could not be happier to be here,” he says. “I was very humbled with the pōwhiri, it was an amazing community turnout.”

He says one of the things that drew him to Victory is its diversity.

“It’s a real strength. There are not too many schools in the Nelson area that could say they have a 40 per cent refugee population and even a 27 per cent Māori population, which is awesome.”

Dan, who attended Kaiapoi High School, says he was drawn to teaching after coaching a five-year-old rugby team in his last year of school.

“I was a graphic designer for a year, then I went to university to gain my teaching qualification.”

His first gig was at Banks Avenue School in Shirley before teaching at Kaiapoi Borough School for four years. He then ventured overseas to travel and teach in London, Asia, Africa, and South America.

“I love travelling and experiencing different cultures - all the things you don’t necessarily see in New Zealand.”

He then moved to Auckland to teach at Ponsonby Primary School before spending the last three years at Parnell District School.

Dan says he is “absolutely loving” Nelson.

“I’m into my outdoor stuff, I enjoy running and biking and it’s like a paradise here. It’s a great place to bring up a family.”

He says there are “many strings to his bow”.

“I love music, sports, and the arts - but I’m equally passionate about the core things like literacy and maths.”

He has been learning te reo, taught kapa haka for about a decade, and even wrote and produced a film at his last school.

Dan says his priorities are establishing relationships with staff, families, and students.

He has already been grilled by one class who held a ‘Q and A’ session with him.

“I have lots of ideas and I’m a passionate educator, but I want everyone to be on the same waka,” he says.

“All of the teachers here put so much passion and energy into their teaching, and that’s the one thing I’ve noticed about the school - it’s got so much heart. In that way, it’s been a very smooth transition for me.”