After retraining as a teacher in 2009 I have had the opportunity to teach at St Joseph’s School in Te Kuiti for almost 4 years, Al Ain Model School for 5 years, Al Hayer Area School for one year, and now here since the start of 2020. Our four children all attended Koromatua School, so we have had a long association. We have a great team at this school, and are fortunate to have a wonderful community and many awesome students as well.
Before marrying Julz, I lived 12 years in the Netherlands, 2 years in the USA, and 8 years in NZ. We have raised our family here, but have also spent 6 years in the UAE – and took the opportunity to see much of the world during those years. We’re happy to be back, especially as it means having closer contact with our five mokopuna.
Besides family time, I enjoy reading, researching things, making things, strategy gaming, and trying to stay fit.
Teaching is something I have always enjoyed, and hope one day to be good at. At the moment my priorities in teaching are:
1. Trying to help tamariki identify their strengths and develop confidence in themselves and their ability to master new things.
2. Encourage students and provide opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills that will give options throughout their lives. Consequently I tend to focus students on areas that they are NOT already confident in.
Not everything in teaching is enjoyable, but I especially love those moments when the light turns on in learners’ eyes, either because they now understand something they did not before, or because they now have the confidence they can do something they previously thought impossible.