Teacher Profiles 2010
Peter Kaiser Principal
Mr Kaiser began his teaching career in 1975 training at Auckland Secondary Teachers College and the University of Auckland. He graduated with a BA in History, and post graduate studies in Education, Psychology and Anthropology. He has taught in a number of schools in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, at Secondary, Intermediate and Primary levels. As well, Mr Kaiser taught in Special Education for 5 years and completed a Diploma in Special Education. In 1992 Mr Kaiser was appointed principal of Tirimoana School.
Jean Harold Deputy Principal
Mrs Harold started teaching in 1970 at New Windsor Primary after completing training at North Shore Teachers College. Over the years, she has taught at a number of primary schools at all levels but concentrated on Junior children’s learning. While raising her family, she furthered her teaching qualification with a Higher Diploma in Teaching in 1985 and continued with her educational studies to graduate with a Bachelor of Education in 1989. In 1994 she was appointed Assistant Principal at Tirimoana. She enjoyed a year’s leave from this position in 2003 to lecture in Teacher Education at Auckland University. In 2006 she graduated with a Master of Education from Auckland University. During 2010 Mrs Harold continues to lead the junior school in the position of Deputy Principal. She also takes responsibility at our school for mentoring Teaching Students from the University of Auckland.
Tui McMillan Assistant Principal
Mrs McMillan graduated from the Mixed Media Programme at Waikato University in 2000. She completed a Bachelor of Teaching specialising in Educational Technology. She has taught at Tirimoana Primary School since 2001. Mrs McMillan is Assistant Principal responsible for senior school, senior assessment and curriculum development. She is also responsible for the Website, for leading ICT Teaching and Learning and coordinating the (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) ICAS Tests. Mrs McMillan enjoys watching and following cricket. She is passionate about education and enjoys reading about new ideas in technology and about teaching and learning theory.
Sharon Croft Senior Teacher
Mrs Croft has been a primary school teacher for many years. She has taught children from 5 -12 years old at several West Auckland schools. She has been working with the students at Tirimoana Primary now for more than 10 years. Mrs Croft has a B Ed with particular strengths in Literacy, Numeracy and the Arts. In 2010 Mrs Croft will take charge of Reading Recovery and lead the Year 0/1 teaching team.
Anne Bainbridge Senior Teacher
Mrs Bainbridge trained at Palmerston North and taught initially in Taranaki. She taught at all levels of primary school with the bulk of her teaching at intermediate school. She was Associate Principal at Rangeview Intermediate School before having a second family. While on leave she completed her Higher Diploma of Teaching before returning to teaching. She was seconded to be Associate Principal at Te Atatu Intermediate before returning to primary teaching. Her sporting background was in swimming, basketball and netball and her teaching interests are Reading and Language. Mrs Bainbridge leads the Year 4 team of teachers and is teaching a Personalised Learning Class (Y4,5,6) in 2010.
Mandy Vanderwee Senior Teacher and Senior Dean
Ms Vanderwee completed her Diploma of Teaching in 1991 at Auckland College of Education. She has taught at Mt Albert Primary, Swanson School, Matipo Primary and Henderson North Primary teaching from Year 0 to Year 8.
She completed her Bachelor of Education in 2006 and was appointed to the Management Team in 2008. Ms Vanderwee has organisational responsibilites as Senior Dean and heads the Year 6 team of teachers in 2010. She is responsible for organising and training School Councillors. She will organise the Year 6 camp. Ms Vanderwee is the lead teachers for Travelwise and Road Sense in the school and she also coordinates student traffic wardens.
Louise Graham Senior Teacher
Mrs Graham completed her teacher training in 1999 at Auckland University and gained a Diploma in Teaching. She had previously gained a BA in History and Political Studies in 1981 and an MA in History in 1983. She joined the teaching team at Tirimoana in 2000 and was appointed a Senior Teacher in 2006. Mrs Graham leads the Year 5 teaching team in 2010. She is passionate about Mathematics and Environmental Education. Mrs Graham is well known for her strong leadership in Mathematics both within our school as well as our cluster of local schools. Mrs Graham leads Environmental Education at Tirimoana.
Amelia Le Cheminant Senior Teacher Year 2
Mrs Le Cheminant (prev Miss Giacon) came to Tirimoana in 2009 from Blockhouse Bay Primary. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching in 2004, and is in her sixth year of teaching. She began by teaching Year 0 students, then Year 1. She is leading the Year 2 team of teachers in 2010. She loves teaching, especially Reading, Writing, and Visual Arts. When Mrs Le Cheminant isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, reading lots of books, and trying to improve her tennis skills.
Hannah Bruce Year 3 Senior Teacher
Miss Bruce came to Tirimoana as a beginning teacher in 2007. She completed her Bachelor of Education at the Auckland College of Education. This year Miss Bruce will lead the Year 3 team of four teachers. Her particular strengths are in the Visual Arts and Literacy.
Patricia House Specialist Teacher
Mrs. House trained at Epsom Teachers’ College where she specialised in Music. After 6 years teaching at Henderson Intermediate she took leave for 12 years to raise her family and to pursue opportunities as a professional opera singer.
She completed the music qualifications of F.T.C.L.(Singing) and L.T.C.L. (Piano) from the Trinity College of London. In 1994 she resumed teaching full time at Y5-6 level at Sunnyvale Primary. For many year now Mrs House has worked as a permanent part-time and relieving teacher at Tirimoana. Mrs House’s teaching interests are in Music, Performing Arts, Language and Gifted and Talented programmes.
Dewald Immink Year 4 Teacher
Mr Immink graduated in 1996 with a BA in Psychology and Education from the University of Pretoria. He completed a Higher Diploma in Education in 1998. After two years of teaching in South Africa Mr Immink relocated to New Zealand. He started teaching at Tirimoana in 2002. He has taught in year 5 and 6 and is now part of the year 4 team. His teaching interests are Reading, Language and Physical Education. During 2010 Mr Immink is the zonal sport organiser and leads boys' sport in the school. His passions include pencil sketching, photography and movie making.
Kura Tuhura Year 5 Teacher
Mrs Tuhura gained a diploma in teaching from the Auckland College of Education in 1994. She worked in several Kura Kaupapa Māori and mainstream schools in the Auckland area, then returned to Auckland University to complete her BEd in 2000. She was a researcher for Ruia Mai Radio, an acting tumuaki for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri ā Mauī, a learning advisor at the Manukau Institute of Technology Learning Centre and the first appointed teaching tumuaki of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Kotuku. Mrs Tuhura is teaching a Year 5 class in 2010. She also leads the teaching of Te Reo Maori and Nga Tikanga Maori in the school.
Joanna Rusbatch Year 0/1 Teacher
Miss Rusbatch completed her Bachelor of Education in 2003 at the Auckland College of Education. She began teaching at Tirimoana in 2006 in a New Entrant/Year 1 class and then moved levels to teach at Year 2 for two years. During 2010 Miss Rusbatch will continue to coordinate junior sport and offer guidance to teachers in this area. She will be teaching in Room 12, a Year 1 class this year. Her special interests include the Arts, Literacy and Physical Education.
Alan Burke Year 5 Teacher
Mr Burke has been teaching Year 5 at Tirimoana since February 2006. He trained at Auckland College of Education and has a Bachelor of Education degree. Mr Burke’s hobbies include watching sports and rocking out on his electric guitar! He is passionate about helping children find their own pathways in learning. His favourite teaching subjects are Physical Education and Music. During 2010 Mr Burke will give leadership in the area of Kiwi Sport as well as maintaining sporting links with clubs in our community.
Lee Raeburn Year 6 Teacher
Mr Raeburn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from AUT university in 2006. He has been with Tirimoana for two years and has thoroughly enjoyed the schools vibrant and energetic spirit. He is looking forward to an exciting year with the Year 6 teaching team and students. One of his passions this year will be leading the Peer Mediation program where he will promoting relationship and problem solving skills. His teaching and learning philosophy is encompassed in the phrase ‘If you win a person’s heart then you win their mind’ this statement underpins his approach towards teaching and learning.
Julie Carlson Year 3 Teacher
Julie Carlson thrives on keeping up to date with the most recent research-based educational theories and practices. In 2007 she learned about Guy Claxton’s “Powerful Learner” model. The new sciences of brain and mind are revealing that everyone has the capacity to become a powerful, lifelong learner. www.guyclaxton.com
Julie bought Professor John Hattie’s 2008 book “Visible Learning.” This ground-breaking book is the result of 15 years research. It builds a story about the power of teachers, feedback, and a model of learning and understanding. Towards the end of 2009 Julie attended a terrific “Inquiry Learning” workshop run by Australian Dr Jeni Wilson. Julie is an enthusiastic, mature teacher who loves her job at Tirimoana School.
Barbara Lake Year 4 Teacher
Mrs Lake completed a Bachelor of Arts with an English major from Massey University before beginning her teaching. She holds a Diploma in Craft Design and a Diploma in Teaching from Otago University. She began her career in the South Island, teaching in small schools across all levels of children, from Year One through to Year 7. In Auckland she taught a Year 4/5/6 class at Mangere Bridge School before coming to Tirimoana School in 2001. Her interests are in all language work especially Reading, Writing, and the language acquisition of Second Language learners. Mrs Lake is currently working on a post-graduate Diploma in TESSOL through Auckland University.
Chris Cashmore Year 2 Teacher
Mrs Cashmore completed her Diploma in Teaching in 2003 at Unitec. She began her teaching career at Tirimoana in a New Entrant class. Since then she has been teaching in Year 2. Mrs Cashmore's strengths are in Music and P.E. Her special interests are in teaching mathematics and music as well as coaching hockey and soccer. this year Miss Cashmore is giving leadership to the junior school staff in the teaching of mathematics.
Jo-Anne Fendall Year 2 Teacher
Mrs Fendall trained at Auckland College of education and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Auckland University. She has been teaching at Tirimoana Primary for nine years. She is a warm, caring teacher. She prefers teaching in the junior syndicate. Her strengths are teaching Reading and Mathematics. The best part of the job for her is working with children, providing hands on experiences for them. She cares about her classroom environment. Pride is taken in children’s work. Their art and written language is displayed attractively.
Charlie Clarke Year 3 Teacher
Mr Clarke completed his teacher training at Auckland University in 2007. He had previously gained a BA in Geography in 2001 from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Mr Clarke taught English in Japan in 2002/2003. He joined the year 0/1 teaching team at Tirimoana in 2007. Mr Clarke will teach in Year 3 during 2010, His passions include Literacy, Music and ICT.
Ann-Maree McAullay Year 0/1 Teacher
Miss McAullay came to Tirimoana as a beginning teacher in 2007. She has a Bachelor of Education Degree from the Auckland College of Education in Epsom and went on to complete her Honours degree majoring in Language, Mathematics, Technology and Gifted Education. She teaches a Year 1 class in 2010. Miss McAullay especially enjoys teaching Mathematics and Visual Arts.
Stephanie Devcich Specialist Teacher
Mrs Devcich has been a teacher for many years, at schools around Auckland. She loves singing and playing the guitar. Mrs Devcich enjoys teaching all subjects but Maths, Science and ESOL are her favourites. She is always envious of anyone who can speak more than one language and so she is furthering her interests in this area by studying part-time for her TESOL Diploma through Auckland University. Mrs Devcich has teaching responsibilities for ESOL in 2010. When she is not at school, Mrs Devcich likes to go surfing or ride her bike.
Sheridan O'Neill Year 6 Teacher
Mrs O'Neill has been teaching in a fulltime capacity at Tirimoana School since 2007. She is an experienced teacher who has taught at a number of West Auckland primary and intermediate schools. She enjoys teaching in all learning areas but has a special passion for Visual Art and Physical Education. Mrs O'Neill loves coaching sport and can often be seen at lunchtime preparing children for various zonal competitions. During 2010 Mrs O'Neill will be teaching in Year 6. She is also a parent of our school.
Rebecca McKelvie Year 0/1 Teacher
Mrs McKelvie graduated from the University of Auckland in 2004 with a Bachelor of Education and began her teaching career at Tirimoana Primary in 2005. She has taught in Year 3 and Year 0. During 2010 Mrs McKelvie will teach in the Year 0/1 area of the school. Mrs McKelvie has strengths in Maths, Literacy and ICT and coordinates our Perceptual Motor Programme for junior students. She has a passion for the outdoors, books and vintage cars.
Kelly Williams Year 0/1 Teacher
Miss Williams came to Tirimoana from Matipo School in 2009. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Teaching at the University of Auckland in 2007 and has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Ancient History also from the University of Auckland. She has taught in the Junior School in New Entrant and Year 1 classes and will be teaching a Year 1 class in Room 10 in 2010. Kelly particularly enjoys teaching Literacy and Visual Arts.
Blair Curtis Year 4 Teacher
Mr Curtis came to Tirimoana School as a beginning teacher in 2009. He has a Bachelor Degree in Business Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching from Massey University. He enjoys teaching all subjects, with a strength in Physical Education. Mr Curtis has a background in community sports coaching and administration. This year, when not at school Mr Curtis is joining the soccer refereeing ranks and is determined to establish a working garden at home.
Alan Tegg Computer Technical Support
Mr Tegg began his teaching career in 1995 after completing a post-graduate diploma at the Auckland College of Education. Prior to entering teaching Mr Tegg had successfully completed an electrical engineering cadetship through the Auckland Electric Power Board and an NZCE (Electrical) through AUT. He began teaching at Taumarunui Primary School moving to Auckland in 2000 to complete a Bachelor of Teaching. He has been working at Tirimoana School since 2001. During 2010 Mr Tegg will be working in a number of different schools and will take care of our Computer Network on one day of the week.
Julie Matthews Year 0/1 Teacher
Julie Matthews graduated in 2000 from Auckland College of Education with her Diploma of Teaching and the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Education. After returning from a couple of years travelling and teaching in the UK she took a position at Botany Downs School. In 2005 she came to Tirimoana Primary to open a New Entrant class. Since then she has enjoyed teaching year 0/1 classes, especially literacy and arts. In her spare time, Mrs Matthews enjoys hanging out with her family at the zoo or a Vodafone Warriors game.
Tracey Simonsen Specialist Teacher
Mrs Simonsen has taught at Tirimoana in a number of different capacities for 13 years. She is a trained reading recovery teacher and taught a New Entrant class during 2009. Mrs Simonsen has been studying to gain her TESSOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Diploma. During 2010 Mrs Simonsen will release teachers in a number of different classes. Her teaching strengths are in literacy and reading recovery. She enjoys spending time with her children, sailing and going to the gym.
Claudia Bachmann Year 2 Teacher
Miss Bachmann completed her Diploma in Teaching in 1998 in Lucerne, Switzerland. She has taught across all levels of primary school. Miss Bachmann moved to New Zealand in 2004 and had a first encounter with Tirimoana in 2005 when she was teaching the Year 6 children in German. Miss Bachmann will teach a Year 2 class in 2010. Her special interests include Physical education and languages. In her leisure time she is passionate about salsa dancing and relaxes while reading a good book or being out in the ocean with the sailboat.
Daniel Miller Year 6 Teacher
Mr. Miller has joined Tirimoana Primary for 2010 to start his teaching career. Graduating from Otago University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science, Dan has gravitated towards teaching through experiences in the NZDF, as a SCUBA Diving Instructor and Human Resource Management, completing a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching from Massey University in 2009. Mr. Miller has a passion for all curriculum areas especially Math, ICT, and Physical Education.
Brooke Wyllie Year 3 Teacher
This is Mr Wyllie’s first year at Tirimoana and he is looking forward to an exciting year in Room 21. In 2007 Mr Wyllie completed a Bachelor of Sport (Coaching) through Unitec New Zealand then went on to work as a sports coordinator at St Kentigern College. It is here that he realised his passion for working with people and especially children. So in 2009 he commenced and completed a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary).Mr Wyllie loves to teach all curriculum areas, especially maths and the visual arts, and is (you guessed it) really keen on Physical Education/Activity. He is keen to implement a multicultural approach to his teaching and to create a real community of learners in Room 21 in 2010. Mr. Wyllie has a real passion for good food and when he is not cooking or teaching you will find him at the hockey turfs playing, coaching or organising hockey.
Jolene Telfer Year 0/1 Teacher
Miss Telfer opened a New Entrant class in Room 1 at the beginning of Term 3. She has recently been working overseas. Miss Telfer has extensive experience at other levels and other schools. We are very fortunate to welcome Miss Telfer to our teaching team at Tirimoana School.
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