Staff

Directors

Lois Chick

MEd (Cant), ADipT
Director of Teacher Intern Programmes

Lois Chick – a founding director of NZGSE – is a highly experienced teacher educator. Lois has taught at eight primary and intermediate schools around New Zealand and at special schools in New Zealand and England. Before the establishment of NZGSE, she worked at a college of education for six years. Lois is widely regarded for her practical approach to classroom teaching. She is in demand for her knowledge of special education and her analytical skills used in appraising teachers and principals and in reviewing schools.

Kevin Knight

JP, BSc, DipEd (Cant), MEd, PGDipEdPs (Otago), PhD (Monash), DipTchg
Director of School Improvement Services

Kevin Knight – also a founding director of NZGSE and highly experienced teacher educator – entered the education service as a secondary mathematics teacher and taught in secondary schools in New Zealand and Australia. He has been a secondary school principal. Kevin is also an educational psychologist and practised in Gisborne and Christchurch before working as a college of education lecturer for five years. Kevin is in high demand throughout New Zealand for his expertise in classroom behaviour management, mentoring and teacher appraisal. Kevin has been a member of the New Zealand Teachers Council.

Rod Browning

MA (Cant), DipEd (Massey), DipTchg, FNZIM
Director of Special Projects

Rod Browning is an experienced school principal and education consultant with a strong reputation in school change. Beginning as a secondary teacher, he was progressively promoted until being appointed as the Principal of Westland High School in Hokitika. The next school he led was Lincoln High School. From there he headed overseas as CEO of Jerudong International School in Brunei. Rod returned to New Zealand as CEO of the Correspondence School in Wellington. Then he began his work as a ‘troubleshooter’ and led schools that were experiencing difficulties. Rod was NZGSE’s Secondary Programme Leader up until February 2010 and continues to work as a tutor.

Programme Leaders

Sue Elley

BTchLn (CCE), MEd (Cant), HDipT
Primary Programme Leader

Sue Elley was a Year 3/4 teacher and the curriculum leader in art, Maori and social studies at Windsor School before joining NZGSE’s full-time staff in 2001. She has also taught at Opawa School. Sue developed expertise in the professional development of experienced teachers as a social studies contract facilitator, and has a special interest in collaborative learning. Sue is a Senior Tutor and has been Primary Programme Leader since 2007.

Lisa Heald

BBc (CPIT), BA (Massey), DipT
Secondary Programme Leader

Lisa Heald began her teaching career as a primary teacher. After a time working as production manager for a television documentary production company, she returned to teaching – this time in the secondary service. She taught a wide range of subjects at Linwood College where she was highly regarded for the strength of her classroom practice. As the Specialist Classroom Teacher for the school she acted as a mentor for other teachers. She was also the lead teacher in ICT. Lisa joined the NZSGE staff as a tutor at the beginning of 2009 and assumed the responsibility of Secondary Programme Leader in February 2010.

Senior Tutor

Robyn Thomson

DipT

While Deputy Principal at Christchurch East School, Robyn Thomson was NZGSE's primary English curriculum tutor and was one of our original supervising teachers. She joined NZGSE as a tutor in 1999 bringing with her 15 years of experience in the education sector, with special expertise in the junior school. She has also taught in London and Sydney. Robyn is known for the high standards she sets herself and anyone who works with her.

Tutors

Raesha Ismail

BEd (Cant), GradDipTchLn

Raesha is an experienced primary teacher with a reputation for setting high standards and succeeding with all her children. She first taught at Overseal Primary School in Derbyshire, UK and then taught at Burwood School from 2003 to 2009. She was regularly a supervising teacher for NZGSE. Raesha has directed school musical productions and she has a particular interest in aerobics. She joined the staff of NZSGE in term 4, 2009.

Dave Turnbull

MA, DipEd, DipEd(Guid) (Cant), DipTchg

Dave Turnbull is an experienced secondary school principal. After working as a classroom teacher, he became the guidance counsellor at Shirley Boys’ High School, where he was later promoted to be Deputy Headmaster. Dave was Principal of Cashmere High School for 12 years until mid 2009. In terms 3 and 4, 2009 he was Interim Principal of Marlborough Boys’ College.

Andrew Withington

MusB(Hons) (Cant), MMus (Auck), ATCL, GDipT

Andrew Withington is a highly talented musician who is well known locally as a conductor at the annual Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival. As a specialist in choral conducting, Andrew is in high demand as a conductor, as a trainer of conductors, and as an adjudicator at music competitions. He is currently the conductor of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir. Andrew has taught at Paparoa Street School and Cobham Intermediate School. Andrew joined the staff of NZSGE at the start of 2009.

Adjunct Tutors

In addition to these tutors, there are also adjunct tutors who are engaged on a part-time basis to contribute to the teaching at NZGSE – especially in curriculum areas. They are usually employed at schools or other organisations. Here are some NZGSE adjunct tutors.

Charlotte Buxton BA (Cant), GDipT
Barbara Robinson TTC
Simon Cooper BBSc (VUW), MCom (Cant), GDipT
Richard Edmundson MA (Cant), DipTchg
Fleur Harris MEd, PhD, PGCertCT (Cant), TTC (SpTh), DipTchg
Keith Moorfield TTC
Julie Morrow DipT
Greg Pearce BTchLn (CCE), DipT
Yolanda Soryl MA (Cant), PGCE (Lond), DipT
Ginnie Thorner BEd (Cant), DipT
Jenny Washington BEd (Cant), DipT