Ruby Miller-Kopelov
Presiding Member
Tēnā koutou katoa, ko Ruby Miller-Kopelov ahau. I am originally from New Mexico, USA, and have been lucky to call Wellington home since 2009. Daniel and I have 2 children, one in Year 5, and another who will start in 2027. We are proud to be part of the wonderfully diverse, welcoming community at MCS. I am a registered nurse working in ICU in a senior clinical education role, and enjoy getting outside for adventures with family and friends, especially tramping, mountain biking, and rogaining. I consider it a privilege to have been able to contribute to our kura as a board member since 2022, supporting our fantastic teaching staff and leadership team to provide quality education for all our tamariki. I contribute my passion for equity, inclusiveness, community, science, and sustainability. I look forward to meeting and working with many more of you over the coming years!
Presiding Member
Tēnā koutou katoa, ko Ruby Miller-Kopelov ahau. I am originally from New Mexico, USA, and have been lucky to call Wellington home since 2009. Daniel and I have 2 children, one in Year 5, and another who will start in 2027. We are proud to be part of the wonderfully diverse, welcoming community at MCS. I am a registered nurse working in ICU in a senior clinical education role, and enjoy getting outside for adventures with family and friends, especially tramping, mountain biking, and rogaining. I consider it a privilege to have been able to contribute to our kura as a board member since 2022, supporting our fantastic teaching staff and leadership team to provide quality education for all our tamariki. I contribute my passion for equity, inclusiveness, community, science, and sustainability. I look forward to meeting and working with many more of you over the coming years!
Karen Baker
Staff Representative
Kia ora koutou! Kō Karen Baker tōku ignoa, kō Ngai Tahu tōku iwi.
I am married to Shaun and we have three secondary school aged children. I am passionate about education and I enjoy teaching at the senior primary level. I love to see children thrive in their learning, particularly in reading, writing and maths. I also love seeing children with special needs, cared for within education. Outside of school, as a family we love spending time with our dog at the beach and I love reading, photography and music.
Staff Representative
Kia ora koutou! Kō Karen Baker tōku ignoa, kō Ngai Tahu tōku iwi.
I am married to Shaun and we have three secondary school aged children. I am passionate about education and I enjoy teaching at the senior primary level. I love to see children thrive in their learning, particularly in reading, writing and maths. I also love seeing children with special needs, cared for within education. Outside of school, as a family we love spending time with our dog at the beach and I love reading, photography and music.
Alfred Soakai
Parent Representative
I have lived in Miramar for over 5 years. Ches and I have 2 boys both attending MCS. We are very fortunate to have such an awesome and diverse school for learning and community that we can all be a part of. I worked in Tonga and the Pacific region as a Finance Systems Analyst and ICT consultant. I am very passionate about tech and unlocking its benefits for all ages and communities. I enjoy being a school Board member, learning from wonderful, intelligent and passionate people working together on this waka for our children and community.
Parent Representative
I have lived in Miramar for over 5 years. Ches and I have 2 boys both attending MCS. We are very fortunate to have such an awesome and diverse school for learning and community that we can all be a part of. I worked in Tonga and the Pacific region as a Finance Systems Analyst and ICT consultant. I am very passionate about tech and unlocking its benefits for all ages and communities. I enjoy being a school Board member, learning from wonderful, intelligent and passionate people working together on this waka for our children and community.
Kate Bondett
Parent Representative
Kia ora, my name is Kate and I’m a parent of 2 kids at the school. I’m a secondary school Geography teacher, originally from Canada. I’ve been teaching internationally for a number of years, before we made the decision to come back to New Zealand for our young family. We love being outdoors, camping and hiking.
Parent Representative
Kia ora, my name is Kate and I’m a parent of 2 kids at the school. I’m a secondary school Geography teacher, originally from Canada. I’ve been teaching internationally for a number of years, before we made the decision to come back to New Zealand for our young family. We love being outdoors, camping and hiking.
Robert Shanks
Parent Representative
Hi, I’m Rob Shanks. My daughters attend at Miramar Central School and Kindy and I wish for our school to continue working well for every family and providing a strong start for all students.
I have lived in in the area of the school for many years. I'm active at sports in the community and run regularly. These community links help me stay connected with other parents and understand what matters most to our neighborhood. In my professional life, I work as an Air Traffic Controller and serve as a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserve and served in Afghanistan in 2010. I hold a Master’s degree and a Bachelor of Business Studies. I use the experience from these roles to assist the Board with practical governance and financial oversight. My focus is on ensuring Miramar Central remains a safe, well-organised, and steady place for our children to learn.
Parent Representative
Hi, I’m Rob Shanks. My daughters attend at Miramar Central School and Kindy and I wish for our school to continue working well for every family and providing a strong start for all students.
I have lived in in the area of the school for many years. I'm active at sports in the community and run regularly. These community links help me stay connected with other parents and understand what matters most to our neighborhood. In my professional life, I work as an Air Traffic Controller and serve as a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserve and served in Afghanistan in 2010. I hold a Master’s degree and a Bachelor of Business Studies. I use the experience from these roles to assist the Board with practical governance and financial oversight. My focus is on ensuring Miramar Central remains a safe, well-organised, and steady place for our children to learn.
Toby Moore
Parent Representative
Kia ora, My name is Toby Moore (Ngati Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui). I am the father of Rohan and Will, both currently at MCS, and Jamie, who will attend some time in the future. In my work life, I'm an economist and Doctoral Student at the School of Government, Victoria University, and was previously an economic advisor in the Beehive. Miramar Central School is an important part of our lives, not just for the care and education it provides our kids, but also as a locus for a lot of community activity for people who live on the Peninsula. I am committed to supporting the governance of the school so that we can keep improving educational achievement, make sure the school continues to be an inclusive place for all our kids given their individual needs and ensure the school navigates a changing policy landscape while minimizing disruption to the school day. The most important thing for me as a parent is seeing my kids come home from school with smiles on their faces, with (often elaborate) stories of what they have been learning, and to know that they are in a safe and caring environment.
Parent Representative
Kia ora, My name is Toby Moore (Ngati Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui). I am the father of Rohan and Will, both currently at MCS, and Jamie, who will attend some time in the future. In my work life, I'm an economist and Doctoral Student at the School of Government, Victoria University, and was previously an economic advisor in the Beehive. Miramar Central School is an important part of our lives, not just for the care and education it provides our kids, but also as a locus for a lot of community activity for people who live on the Peninsula. I am committed to supporting the governance of the school so that we can keep improving educational achievement, make sure the school continues to be an inclusive place for all our kids given their individual needs and ensure the school navigates a changing policy landscape while minimizing disruption to the school day. The most important thing for me as a parent is seeing my kids come home from school with smiles on their faces, with (often elaborate) stories of what they have been learning, and to know that they are in a safe and caring environment.
Jeremy Plimmer
Parent Representative
Kia ora, My name is Jeremy Plimmer and my wife Aiddie and I have 2 children that have been part of the Miramar Central whanau. My son Harrison attended for 6 years and is currently at Wellington College while my daughter Sophia is a year 4 student at the school. Over the last 8 years, we have seen the school go through a vast amount of growth and renovation and I'm looking forward to being able to play a part of that through representing the school community on the Board of Trustees. I am a Wellingtonian through and through having lived here my whole life and we have called Miramar home for the last 10 years. With a busy family, my main passions are spending my weeknights and weekends stood at the sideline of a sporting pitch or in a dance studio supporting my kids and I am also football (soccer) tragic. Professionally I have worked within the public sector for 20 years across a range of roles, focussed both on the operational and strategic. I am currently a Principal Advisor, a role that requires strong relationship management, communication, connection and strategic thinking, qualities which I can bring to the board. I have a passion for education and how important these early years, and the environment we set up is in setting the foundations for strong, independent and successful tamariki. I have a personal focus on STEM in education and ensuring our kids are equipped for a changing future. Ngā mihi, Jeremy
Parent Representative
Kia ora, My name is Jeremy Plimmer and my wife Aiddie and I have 2 children that have been part of the Miramar Central whanau. My son Harrison attended for 6 years and is currently at Wellington College while my daughter Sophia is a year 4 student at the school. Over the last 8 years, we have seen the school go through a vast amount of growth and renovation and I'm looking forward to being able to play a part of that through representing the school community on the Board of Trustees. I am a Wellingtonian through and through having lived here my whole life and we have called Miramar home for the last 10 years. With a busy family, my main passions are spending my weeknights and weekends stood at the sideline of a sporting pitch or in a dance studio supporting my kids and I am also football (soccer) tragic. Professionally I have worked within the public sector for 20 years across a range of roles, focussed both on the operational and strategic. I am currently a Principal Advisor, a role that requires strong relationship management, communication, connection and strategic thinking, qualities which I can bring to the board. I have a passion for education and how important these early years, and the environment we set up is in setting the foundations for strong, independent and successful tamariki. I have a personal focus on STEM in education and ensuring our kids are equipped for a changing future. Ngā mihi, Jeremy