Principal

B Ed Dip Tch

Greetings, Kia Ora. Welcome to the new school year. Looking back from TIS you will find that I have had a varied and interesting career in education. I have taught in country schools, special education, primary schools and intermediates from Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay. I have also spent time in the Advisory Service and ERO. In Napier I have been principal of Port Ahuriri School, Porritt School and for the last 'few' (2004+) years here at TIS. Each year I consider myself to be very privileged to have the opportunity to work along side an outstanding group of students and a dedicated team of teachers who interact so well together to make our Taradale Intermediate Community unique. By being unique I mean, we reflect a diverse NZ community, we come from all types of backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs, values and come together from many different schools. Our school is dynamic, it is organic – we grow, change and develop in different ways every year, as people and as a community. This reflects very much the needs of the emerging adolescent, the 11 – 13 year old. At TIS our students are encouraged and nurtured to achieve their very best. Each is offered a wide range of experiences that provide opportunities to accept challenges, to push themselves “to be the best they can be”, all things that build the base of life skills for their future years.

Deputy Principal

I have been teaching for many years in Hawke’s Bay schools. I started my teaching career in Gisborne teaching infants, progressing to Havelock North and Hastings schools. After having my own family, I found myself teaching Year 5 & 6 students at Mahora School for 10 years and loving the learning interactions with the older students. Working for Massey University as an English Facilitator for a few years enabled my access into many Hawke’s Bay schools both rural and urban and this broadened my knowledgebase in education exponentially! I was then appointed Deputy Principal at Peterhead School teaching Year 7 and 8 students before gaining this position at Taradale Intermediate School where I have been part of the management team for 12 years. I really enjoy this age group of emerging adolescents, especially those who grab the many opportunities this school provides and spread their wings and fly. Among my varied roles, I have had the pleasure in working with many exceptional students in the field of Literacy, preparing and leading students on an annual Japanese exchange, and coordinating our whole school EOTC at the Opouahi Wilderness Base. This is a dynamic and stimulating environment for on going learning and our able and friendly students make for a very satisfying , rewarding workplace!

Deputy Principal/SENCO

I've spent the last 21 years teaching at intermediate level so YES I definitely have a passion for this age group. The challenges and rewards they bring add up to an amazing journey over the 2 years the students are with us.
My passions in education lie in the fields of maths, inquiry and ICT - providing students with the skills to thrive in the 21st century.
Part of my role at TIS is the special needs co-ordinator. It is my privilege to work closely with some of our students and their families to provide the best possible support we can.
It is great being part of a dynamic school that sees teaching and learning as a partnership between the student and the teacher.