Two leaders of Auckland’s Saint Kentigern School leave with serious health problems in two months

Two senior executives from a large Auckland school have been forced to resign or take time off due to health concerns in the past two months.

Saint Kentigern Chief David Hodge announced he was taking
early retirement, with immediate effect, in June to focus on personal health issues.

Two months later, the Auckland East Private School informed parents that the college principal, Russell Brooke, was on extended leave, which the Herald said is also for health reasons.

A letter sent to parents earlier this week by Saint Kentigern Trust board chairman Mark Conelly said Brooke was taking a “period of leave from the start of this term.”

The letter went on to say that the leave could last for several weeks, but the board was happy Duncan McQueen had agreed to lead the college in the meantime.

“Mr. McQueen has been a long-time member of the Saint Kentigern College leadership team and served as principal of the former Middle College,” the letter reads.

“Mr. McQueen will report to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and work with college management to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of our students and staff. “

Speaking to the Herald, Conelly confirmed Brooke was on “special leave” for personal reasons, but said he couldn’t give details of the situation.

Brooke took on the role of Saint Kentigern College in early 2020 when the school decided to merge Middle College and Senior College into one structure.

Prior to her appointment to Pakuranga School, Brooke was Principal of ACG Parnell College for three years and Principal of Long Bay College previously.

This week’s announcement follows June’s notification from the Board of Trustees to the school community that Hodge is taking early retirement to focus on health and his family.

Hodge confirmed his “very sudden resignation” was due to his health, but declined to detail his condition.

He became the first principal of Saint Kentigern in the second quarter of 2017 and was responsible for the supervision of the nursery school, the girls ‘school, the boys’ school and the college.

He had been Principal of Rangitoto College, the largest school in the country, for 11 years prior to his appointment and prior to that he was Principal of Tamaki College.