When the schools reopen for the new academic year in 2026 “The Wolpack” of Apex High School will have a new leader.
Dillon Seals, a teacher at the school will be the new principal as the current principal, Renate van Westhuizen, vacates her award-winning position. Seals, also an award-winning mathematics teacher, says he feels deeply honoured and excited about the opportunity. “Leading a school has indeed been a long-term aspiration of mine, and to do so in the community where I was born and raised makes it even more meaningful. This isn’t just a professional achievement—it’s personal. I’ve grew up and lived here ; I know these families, I understand the community’s heartbeat, its challenges, and its aspirations.
“Having been part of Apex’s journey through various leadership roles, I’ve seen firsthand how our mission and vision come to life daily. The commitment to providing transformational education in collaboration with parents and the community—that’s not just words on paper for me; it’s been my lived experience here. As an instructional leader, I understand that the principal’s primary role is to improve teaching and learning. I approach this role with both humility and determination, ready to lead us toward our vision of competing with the very best and redefining what’s possible for all learners,” says Seals.
Philosophy
Seals says his his leadership philosophy is firmly anchored in instructional leadership—the belief that the principal’s primary responsibility is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. “Everything else is secondary. This aligns perfectly with Apex’s mission of providing transformational education and our vision of competing with the very best. The core principles of my instructional leadership approach is teaching and learning first, visible, engaged leadership, a professional learning community, data-informed, student-centered, high expectations and support, curriculum leadership, collaborative but directive when necessary and cultivate a culture of learning,” says Seals.
According to him his progression from classroom teacher to Mathematics Subject Head to Head of Academics has been a journey of instructional leadership development. “I’ve led curriculum design, teacher development, and academic improvement initiatives. Now, as principal, I’ll scale this instructional focus school-wide. Van der Westhuizen founded Apex High School and has built something truly extraordinary from the ground up. As someone who has served on the School Management Team and in various leadership roles under her guidance, I’ve had a front-row seat to witness transformational leadership in action. I don’t take lightly the responsibility of building on her legacy.
Follow in her footsteps
“During COVID-19, Apex didn’t miss a single day of instruction because Renate and the team lived out the ‘whatever it takes’ mantra—quickly adapting to Moodle, ensuring every student had data packages, hustling to make learning happen. This unwavering commitment solidified community trust. I will maintain this relentless consistency and problem-solving spirit. What I bring as continuity-with-growth.
“My dream for Apex is to fully realize our vision and mission through excellence in teaching and learning. Because I’m from this community and have served as Head of Academics, I understand both what our students need and how to mobilize our teachers to deliver it. I want Apex to be the school where teaching and learning excellence is visible in every classroom, every day. I want parents to choose Apex not as a compromise, but as their first choice—even over fee-paying schools,” he says.
Seals says because he is from Eerste River, he understands the community. “I was born and raised right here in this community. This is home. I understand our families, our values, and our aspirations because they’re my own. I know the challenges our students face because I’ve witnessed them in our community. I know the potential our young people have because I’ve seen it firsthand. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Honours), followed by my PGCE which I completed Cum Laude, and then a B.Ed (Honours) in Curriculum Inquiry. This academic progression was intentional—each qualification deepened my understanding of both content and pedagogy. The strong performance in my PGCE reflected my commitment to teaching excellence, while the Curriculum Inquiry specialisation specifically prepared me for instructional leadership, focusing on how curriculum is designed, implemented, and evaluated for maximum learning impact.
“What drives me is deeply personal. These aren’t just students—they’re my neighbours’ children, members of my community, young people with the same potential I had growing up here. I’ve seen what happens when students lack opportunity, and I’ve witnessed the transformation that excellent education provides. This work isn’t just professional for me; it’s personal mission. Throughout my career at Apex, I’ve been committed to our mission and vision. Whether developing independent thinkers in my mathematics classes, fostering hard work and high expectations as Grade Head, or driving academic excellence as Head of Academics, I’ve been living out Apex’s values while developing the instructional leadership skills necessary to take us to the next level. I’m not an outsider coming in with untested theories; I’m someone who has been in the trenches, understands our context intimately, and knows exactly what we need to achieve our vision. I’m ready to lead because I’ve been preparing for this through every role I’ve held at Apex.”
Mathematics
Mathematics is where Seals’ heart lies and it will be one of his main focusses. “Mathematics is crucial to our mission of preparing students for tertiary education and our vision of competing with the very best. I’m not coming to Apex to simply manage operations or maintain what exists—I’m coming to lead learning. Our mission and vision demand instructional excellence, and that’s exactly where I’ll focus my energy. As a principal rooted in instructional leadership, I’ll work alongside teachers daily to improve teaching quality, student learning, and academic outcomes. I understand the privilege and responsibility of succeeding Renate Van der Westhuizen. She proved what’s possible when a leader loves students fiercely enough to demand excellence, works collaboratively with community, and maintains unwavering focus on teaching and learning. I won’t let that legacy falter. This isn’t just my job; it’s my purpose, my community, and my commitment. I’m ready to lead Apex to instructional excellence that enables us to compete with the very best and prove what’s possible when a community comes together around transformational teaching and learning. Renate gave students ‘a seat at the table’. I will ensure more students pull up chairs—and that they’re fully prepared to contribute meaningfully when they sit down.”
