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How long have you been an educator, and where did you train?
I began my teaching career in 1980 having trained at Loreto Hall Catholic Teachers’ Training College in Remuera. I have predominantly taught in Catholic schools but relieved in Papakura schools when my children were young and later spent two years at Pukekohe Intermediate as deputy principal.
When did you become the principal of St Joseph’s School?
I became principal of St Joseph’s School in 2017. This is my 10th year!
Before that, I had been here as deputy principal from 2001 to 2014.
What’s the best thing about being an educator and principal?
I have always loved working with people. It’s a busy job but so rewarding. No day is ever the same, and no day is routine. A principal’s job has a huge amount of variety. I love getting to know the children and my staff, who are like “my class”. Being a principal has enabled me to shape a shared vision for our school community and to see that vision come to life through the growth and success of our learners and staff. Also, being surrounded by the youth and energy of my staff and students keeps me energised.
They keep me young!
What’s special about St Joseph’s School?
Established over 100 years ago, St. Joseph’s is a vibrant, faith-based primary school that treats every student like family. We celebrated our centenary in 2023, marking ten decades of educating generations of local families. Today, our school is a diverse tapestry of cultures, all woven together by our Catholic character and a deep sense of tradition built on our founder’s charism.
We live our mission statement by striving to provide an excellent education befitting our Catholic character. We endeavour to do our best by providing an array of opportunities for our students to experience success in a variety of ways inside and out of school. We encourage our students to continue our Mission charism, building leaders who strive to do their best by being of service to others. The greatest things we teach are to love one another, to treat each other with kindness and empathy, to look out for our neighbours, and to support those less fortunate.
Is there anything you’d like improved in the education/school management sector?
Resourcing is the single most critical area for improvement in school management. While buildings and equipment are important, people are our greatest assets. To truly support our learners and staff, we need a significant shift in staffing models. This means ensuring teacher aides are a constant presence in every
classroom to support both teachers and students. Furthermore, providing schools with one additional teacher above their current entitlement would be a game-changer, allowing for innovative and personalised learning opportunities that current constraints often prevent.
