People

People

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Ōtūmoetai College Board

Our School Board is comprised of dedicated professional people from all walks of life and connections to the school, with one common purpose, the careful stewardship of the School’s Purpose, Vision and Values and the strategic framework that guides the growth and development of Ōtūmoetai College in the present and into the future.

I’ve been practising as a lawyer for over 20 years in Wellington, London, and, for the last 12 years, Tauranga.  My wife Adele is an OTC alumnus, my oldest child is in year 11, and my youngest will start at OTC next year.

This is my first term as an OTC Board member, but I was Board Chair of Bellevue School before that. As a lifelong tennis enthusiast, I belong to the Otumoetai Tennis Club and I help oversee its junior tennis programme. I am an avid sports watcher and have to confess to the odd bout of binge-watching on Netflix.

Qualifications: LLM, LLB/BSocSci (Economics)

Matthew King
Presiding Member

Tēnā koutou katoa,

I have been teaching for 12 years, seven of these at Otumoetai College. I am involved in a variety of areas within the kura including English, Media Studies, Te Whare Māori (Poutama), the Kahui Ako, and as a Year 12 Dean.

I was elected as the staff representative to the Board of Trustees toward the end of 2022 and am looking forward to learning about school governance and working with members of our community to ensure the best outcomes for our tauira.

Qualifications: BA, Graduate Dp Sec Tchg

Ashleigh Lack
Staff Representative

Ngāti Ranginui | Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Ngāi Tamarāwaho | Ngāti Hine

Committed to Māori achievement and prosperity; seeking and sharing opportunity through meaningful relationships.

With a passion in Governance and particularly Co-Governance models; it’s always fun to bridge the gap between the governance framework and operational realities.

Mel Tata
Iwi Representative co-opted

I have lived in Tauranga for the last 25 years and am married to Carolyn. I have three children who have all attended Otumoetai College with two now in further study.

I managed football at the college for 6 years and I am a life member of the Otumoetai Football Club. I have served on the BOP Polytechnic Council, manage Beca’s Bay of Plenty office with a professional services team of 280 and am involved with a number of organisations that help young people with their career choices.

I enjoy football (while my knees still hold out), sailing, scuba diving, motorcycling and working on my life sentence block.

Qualifications: BEng (Civil)

Gavin Frost
Parent elected

I became a BOT member in 2019 because I wanted to contribute to my community and I have a passion for people and education.

I am an ex primary school teacher/ principal, an ex professional rugby referee and my current role is National Referee manager for NZ Rugby.  My wife Clare teaches at Bellevue and both our daughters have been through Pillans Point, Otumoetai Intermediate and Otumoetai College.

I believe NZ has a world class education system and great teachers and school leaders. My role as a BOT member is to assist staff to “make a difference” – a difference for every pupil, a difference for every family/whanau and a difference for our community.

I am a proud “Oats Old Boy” with very fond memories of my school life and I am motivated to serve our school community.

Qualifications:  BEd, DipTch, PGDip Human Resources

Bryce Lawrence

I was born in Matamata but have lived in Tauranga since 1987. I grew up involved in a successful family business before leaving Matamata to follow a career in Tauranga.

I returned three years ago to that family business to assist with running our Tauranga branch. I have been married to Andy for 19 years and we have 3 boys, 2 at Otumoetai College and 1 at Otumoetai Intermediate.

I have been on a primary school board for the past 7 years with a keen interest in finance, employment, international students, health and safety, and the achievement of students. I’m very passionate about everything I’m involved in and genuinely care a lot about our school and community in general.

Lisa Adams
Parent elected

I am a year 13 student studying at Ōtūmoetai College.  I was elected to the Board by the student body in September 2022.

My role is to provide a student perspective to the board’s governance decisions, which dictate the strategic direction and stewardship of the school.

As student trustee, I have gained many valuable insights into how the school is administered and run, as well as how to make effective governance decisions so that Ōtūmoetai College can be a safe and inclusive environment that allows every student every opportunity to be successful.

Joshua Knill
Student Representative

Senior Leadership Team

Our Senior Leadership Team’s focus is on leading, developing and monitoring teaching and learning.  Our goal is to create a foundation for all learners to flourish within a learning environment that enables students to achieve their personal best in their academic studies, the arts, sporting and cultural pursuits.

Russell views his position as principal of Ōtūmoetai College as being an absolute privilege and one that brings with it a deep responsibility.

The privilege is in being able to contribute to make a difference to student learning and to improve learning outcomes.

The responsibility is to ensure that every student receives quality learning opportunities and has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential as a powerful thinker and learner. 

He believes that quality learning opportunities, student progress, and ultimately improved student outcomes are created within an environment where learning is central to a school’s raison d’être.

As an educational leader, his role is to develop and promote a shared purpose, to lead curriculum and pedagogical change, and to develop a common understanding of learning.

Qualifications: MEdLeadership (Hons), BPA, Dip Tchg

Russell Gordon
Principal

What is my why? Valuing humanity, diversity and cultural connections is important to me.

I love the mindset of: How can I help? Being a contributor to a collaborative and teamwork approach which encompasses future thinking and a growth mindset in all paradigms of education resonates strongly with me. However, also acknowledging that some forms of traditional education remain very effective.

Importantly, volunteering and coaching have allowed me to give back in a wider school context and have provided me with many enriching experiences, connections, and friendships, both here at school and in the wider community. This has been its own reward.

Along my education journey, here at Ōtūmoetai College, I have been fortunate enough to have had a son come through our school and a very supportive family.

Richard Brown
Deputy Principal: rbrown@otc.school.nz

Pip has a strong desire to empower students to become independent and lifelong learners. She is committed to unleashing student potential and ensure that all students experience a high quality, balanced programme of learning opportunities. Pip oversees the development of the school’s curriculum, professional learning and growth, by actively fostering staff and student talent in a safe and supportive environment. Pip also stresses the importance of building a strong partnership between school and home.

Qualifications: MEdLeadership (Hons), BEd, Dip Sp Mngmt, Dip Tchg

Pip Woodward
Deputy Principal Curriculum, Year 9 : pwoodward@otc.school.nz

Jude is a highly experienced educator and is passionate about students developing a love of and curiosity for learning within a safe physical and emotional environment. Jude believes that student wellbeing and positive learning outcomes are inextricably linked. Her focus is on maintaining values and expectations to ensure the learning environment is one in which teachers can deliver the best possible educational outcomes.

Qualifications: BA, Dip Tchg

Jude Brown
Deputy Principal Behaviour, Year 13 : jbrown@otc.school.nz

Dave has a professional background that includes a wide range of experience in New Zealand schools, and joined the Ōtūmoetai staff in 2021.

Strongly aware of the transformational impact learning can have on young people, his broad educational experience, strategic expertise and hands-on knowledge of schools brings a unique range of attributes to his role at Ōtūmoetai College.

Dave believes that learning needs to be challenging and fun and that students need to acquire the skills, competencies and dispositions that will enable them to be confident, well-rounded and successful young people in a rapidly changing world.  

Qualifications: BESc, BEd

Dave Cleland
Deputy Principal HR & Evaluation, Year 12 : dcleland@otc.school.nz

The role of Kaitiaki is to act as a carer, guardian, and protector. Bobby’s role is to bring the true intentions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to life at Ōtūmoetai College, by blending two worlds for both Māori and non-Māori. This will be achieved through innovative support structures and programmes that promote equity for Māori education, through increasing achievement, engagement and hauora.

Bobby is strongly committed to ensuring college students are empowered to make the most of their individual strengths, grow in confidence and explore all that the curriculum offers.

Qualifications: BA, Dip Tchg

Bobby Ketu
Deputy Principal Kaitiaki, Year 11 : bketu@otc.school.nz

Heads of Department

The core role of our Heads of Department (HODs) is to provide academic leadership of their subject area. HODs are required to lead, manage and develop their department to ensure it achieves the highest possible standards of excellence in all its activities.

Art
Sarah-Jane Smith
ssmith@otc.school.nz

Business
Nyssa Poffley
npoffley@otc.school.nz

Careers
Stacey Shefferd
sshefferd@otc.school.nz

Drama & Dance
Mandy Rowe
mrowe@otc.school.nz

English
Dave Shefferd
dshefferd@otc.school.nz

Guidance
Julie Sutton
jsutton@otc.school.nz

Languages
Leo Wilson
lwilson@otc.school.nz

Learning Centre
Claire Lander
clander@otc.school.nz

Māori
Maria Veronese
mveronese@otc.school.nz

Mathematics
Neil McDermid
nmcdermid@otc.school.nz

Media Studies
Joshua Buxton
jbuxton@otc.school.nz

Music
Matt Bodman
mbodman@otc.school.nz

Physical Education
Jamie Davis
jdavis@otc.school.nz

Science
Kim Beaton
kbeaton@otc.school.nz

Social Science
Nick Page
npage@otc.school.nz

Special Needs
Caly Pillay
cpillay@otc.school.nz

Supported Learning
Paula Purser
ppurser@otc.school.nz

Technology
Kevin Meyer
kmeyer@otc.school.nz

Technology
Lauren May
lmay@otc.school.nz

Year Level Deans

The College Deans travel alongside their year level cohort and over their 5 years will work to ensure that our students grow into powerful thinkers and learners who embrace diversity, resilience and develop meaningful relationships with others.

Year 9 Dean
Miss Jessie Fauntleroy
jfauntleroy@otc.school.nz

Year 9 Dean
Mr Andrew Rapley
arapley@otc.school.nz

DP in Charge of Year 9
Ms Pip Woodward
pwoodward@otc.school.nz

Year 10 Dean
Mrs Vanessa Hays
vhays@otc.school.nz

Year 10 Dean
Mr Craig Grant
cgrant@otc.school.nz

DP in Charge of Year 10
Mr Richard Brown
rbrown@otc.school.nz

Year 11 Dean
Mrs Caroline Reynolds
creynolds@otc.school.nz

Year 11 Dean
Mr Mark Williams
mwilliams@otc.school.nz

DP in Charge of Year 11
Mr Bobby Ketu
bketu@otc.school.nz

Year 12 Dean
Miss Ashleigh Lack
alack@otc.school.nz

Year 12 Dean
Mr David Williams
dwilliams@otc.school.nz

DP in Charge of Year 12
Mr Dave Cleland
dcleland@otc.school.nz

Year 13 Dean
Mrs Melissa Nicholson
mnicholson@otc.school.nz

Year 13 Dean
Leo Wilson
lwilson@otc.school.nz

DP in Charge of Year 13
Mrs Jude Brown
jbrown@otc.school.nz

Student Leaders & Executive Committees

Our Student Executive Committees for 2023

CREATIVE ARTS
Mentor – Mandy Rowe
Emma Cade, Caitlin Spalding

ENVIRONMENT
Mentor – Joc McCreary
Sofias Arias, Sam Bainbridge

HAUORA (Cultural / Wellbeing)
Mentors – Kat Brewer and Mary-Ann Braddock
Marika Porteners, Ameerah Wilson

MENTORING
Mentor – Pip Woodward
Evi Cabemaiwai, Sania Harmine, Chaelim Kim

PUBLICITY
Mentor – Joshua Buxton
Theo McKay, Chloe Davison

RUAMANO (Cultural)
Mentor – Melissa Nicholson
Nina Turner

SPECIAL EVENTS
Mentors – Megan Fritsch and Steve Gilvear
Olivia Chappell, Bella Ritai

SPORTS
Mentor – Paul Braddock
Mason Kritz, Ella Douglas

Our Student Leaders for 2023

Peter Colonna (Head Student)
Charo Heijnen (Head Student)
Karlia Taylor (Head Student)
Arwin Viduya (Head Student)
Joshua Knill (BoT Rep.)

Our Whare Leaders for 2023

PŪWHENUA (Green)
Staff Leader – Kathryn Brewer
Sam Bainbridge, Danielle Fowler

MAUNGANUI (Orange)
Staff Leader – Jane Harnett
Mia Mackenzie, Sofia Arias

KAREWA (Blue)
Staff Leader – Leo Wilson
Rachel Wahab, Abby Finlayson

MANUNUI (Yellow)
Staff Leader – Adam Braddock
Liana Needham, Olivia Chappell

ŌTANEWAINUKU (Purple)
Staff Leader – Mary-Ann Braddock
George Farrar, Zachaia Tarawa

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