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How long have you been an educator, and where did you train?
I began my career in education at the start of 1986, following graduation with a four-year Higher Diploma in Education from the Johannesburg College of Education in South Africa.
During my 39 years in primary education, I added a Bachelor of Arts (South Africa), a further Diploma in Education (South Africa) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (New Zealand) to my basket of knowledge. I recently completed a Level 3 Certificate called He Papa Tikanga and have now embarked on a Level 5 course in Adult Education.
When did you become the principal of Papakura Normal School?
I became the principal of Papakura Normal School in May 2017. Prior to that, I was the principal of Royal Oak Intermediate and Bailey Road School.
What’s the best thing about being an educator and principal?
As principal, the best thing is when I walk around the school and have children run up to or call out to me with happy, young faces. The children know that I do this job because of them. The delight I see in their faces when I greet them with a hello in their mother tongue is also pleasing to see.
Being a principal of a full primary (years 1 to 8) is exciting because I get to be a part of a child’s entire foundational learning journey, watching them blossom from curious 5-year-olds into confident, well-rounded emerging adolescents (12-year-olds).
It’s incredibly rewarding to cultivate a nurturing and supportive environment where both ākonga/learners and kaiako/teachers feel inspired to learn and grow. The energy and creativity of the ākonga bring a smile to my face every single day.
What’s special about Papakura Normal School?
Wow, where do I begin? We have made a concerted effort to uphold our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our Waka Way embraces all things Te Ao Māori, and Emeritus Prof. Bishop’s statement: “What is good for everyone is not always good for Māori; but what is good for Māori is good for everyone”, rings true at our school. The other special feature of our school is that, as a normal school, we play a key role in the initial teacher education sector.
Is there anything you’d like improved in the education/school management sector?
My strongest desire is for a bipartisan governmental approach to education. This will ensure that schools can just get on with it.
How is the relationship between Papakura Normal School and its immediate local community?
Our school’s motto, “He waka eke noa” (“We are all in this together”), perfectly encapsulates our approach to community engagement. Papakura Normal School views itself as a waka, a canoe, on a shared journey with its ākonga/learners, kaimahi/staff, and ngā mātua/parents.
The goal is for everyone to work together to help ākonga/learners achieve their full potential.
Papakura Normal School embraces the diverse cultural backgrounds of its community, which includes a significant Māori population as well as European, Polynesian, Asian, and Indian ethnicities.
Our school uses te reo Māori and concepts, such as whānau and mana, to foster a sense of belonging. We collaborate with local groups to enrich ākonga/learners’ experiences. For example, we work with CLM Community Sport and the Papakura Marae to connect ākonga/learners with their cultural heritage through physical activities and educational visits.
Finally, we maintain a partnership with the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, which is a key part of our special character as a “normal school.”
