Miramar Central Staff
Leadership Team
Jackie Sutherland - Principal
[email protected]
Tracy Shanks - Assistant Principal, Team Leader - Pōhutukawa
[email protected]
Jackie Sutherland - Principal
[email protected]
Tracy Shanks - Assistant Principal, Team Leader - Pōhutukawa
[email protected]
Teaching Staff
POHUTUKAWA TEAM
Tracy Shanks
Assistant Principal, Pōhutukawa Team Leader, Room 12 Year 0/1 (Kiwi)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te Whānau. I arrived at MCS in 2018 and enjoy being part of our wonderful community. My favourite year levels to teach are definitely the juniors! I am an advocate for play-based learning as it gives children opportunities to learn in different ways. I am also passionate about writing, art and digital technology. I have two daughters who both came to MCS and are now ECE teachers, and a fur baby called Winnie. I enjoy the outdoors, especially camping, walking and going to the beach. I am looking forward to work alongside my new team as we continue our journey teaching Better Start Literacy.
Assistant Principal, Pōhutukawa Team Leader, Room 12 Year 0/1 (Kiwi)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te Whānau. I arrived at MCS in 2018 and enjoy being part of our wonderful community. My favourite year levels to teach are definitely the juniors! I am an advocate for play-based learning as it gives children opportunities to learn in different ways. I am also passionate about writing, art and digital technology. I have two daughters who both came to MCS and are now ECE teachers, and a fur baby called Winnie. I enjoy the outdoors, especially camping, walking and going to the beach. I am looking forward to work alongside my new team as we continue our journey teaching Better Start Literacy.
Donna Graham
Room 11 Year 0/1 (Tui)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te iwi, ko Donna toku ingoa.
I am so excited to be teaching your tamariki at Miramar Central School. I am a trained early childhood teacher and am passionate about the learning and development of your child. To see them succeed in their learning is incredibly rewarding for all of us. I am a mum of 3 amazing girls, 2 of them live out of Wellington while my youngest lives with me. I love netball and am heavily involved in the Wellington Netball scene, where I umpire a variety of levels. I am looking forward to sharing amazing moments with you all and being a part of the Miramar School community and wider community.
Room 11 Year 0/1 (Tui)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te iwi, ko Donna toku ingoa.
I am so excited to be teaching your tamariki at Miramar Central School. I am a trained early childhood teacher and am passionate about the learning and development of your child. To see them succeed in their learning is incredibly rewarding for all of us. I am a mum of 3 amazing girls, 2 of them live out of Wellington while my youngest lives with me. I love netball and am heavily involved in the Wellington Netball scene, where I umpire a variety of levels. I am looking forward to sharing amazing moments with you all and being a part of the Miramar School community and wider community.
Jamie Byas
Room 7 Year 2/3 (Takahē)
[email protected]
Kia Ora e te Whānau,
I’m very excited to have started my teaching career at Miramar Central School and I am excited to be teaching year 2/3 this year.
I grew up in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin after the earthquakes when I was in Year 7. I moved to Wellington after graduating from the University of Otago in 2022. Reading and Writing are my favourite subjects to teach because it allows so much creativity and imagination. I love seeing all the fun ideas the children come up with!
When I'm not at school you will most likely find me in the theatre. I am involved in numerous theatre productions, mostly doing lighting and sound but I also direct, write children’s plays and stage manage from time to time. I also enjoy spending time at home and hanging out with friends and family.
Room 7 Year 2/3 (Takahē)
[email protected]
Kia Ora e te Whānau,
I’m very excited to have started my teaching career at Miramar Central School and I am excited to be teaching year 2/3 this year.
I grew up in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin after the earthquakes when I was in Year 7. I moved to Wellington after graduating from the University of Otago in 2022. Reading and Writing are my favourite subjects to teach because it allows so much creativity and imagination. I love seeing all the fun ideas the children come up with!
When I'm not at school you will most likely find me in the theatre. I am involved in numerous theatre productions, mostly doing lighting and sound but I also direct, write children’s plays and stage manage from time to time. I also enjoy spending time at home and hanging out with friends and family.
Julie Solomon
Room 6 Year 2/3 (Pūkeko)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whanau. I am Miramar born and bred and an ex pupil of MCS. The amazing teachers I had then were definitely an influence on my career choice! After doing my OE teaching in London, I returned to the Eastern Suburbs and have been here ever since. When I am not teaching I love traveling around New Zealand and venturing further afield, reading and hanging out with friends and family.
Room 6 Year 2/3 (Pūkeko)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whanau. I am Miramar born and bred and an ex pupil of MCS. The amazing teachers I had then were definitely an influence on my career choice! After doing my OE teaching in London, I returned to the Eastern Suburbs and have been here ever since. When I am not teaching I love traveling around New Zealand and venturing further afield, reading and hanging out with friends and family.
KAURI TEAM
Kim Meredith
Room 2 Year 5/6 (Whio), Kauri Team Leader
[email protected]
Kia ora koutou. I have been teaching for 17 years and have taught in most areas of school. This will be my fourth year teaching at MCS. When I’m not at school, I love to ride my mountain bike, jogging around the trails of Karori and Otari, going on outdoor adventures, orienteering and rogaining. We’ve also added a dog to our family, so I love walking her. I also enjoy curling up with a good book.
Room 2 Year 5/6 (Whio), Kauri Team Leader
[email protected]
Kia ora koutou. I have been teaching for 17 years and have taught in most areas of school. This will be my fourth year teaching at MCS. When I’m not at school, I love to ride my mountain bike, jogging around the trails of Karori and Otari, going on outdoor adventures, orienteering and rogaining. We’ve also added a dog to our family, so I love walking her. I also enjoy curling up with a good book.
Michelle Li
Room 1 Year 4/5 (Kākāpō)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te Whānau, I am a mother of three children who are ex Miramar Central students. This is my seventh year teaching at MCS. I am looking forward to learning and growing with the children and their whanau in Room 7. When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, gardening, Tai Chi, learning sign language and relaxing with my family and friends.
Room 1 Year 4/5 (Kākāpō)
[email protected]
Kia ora e te Whānau, I am a mother of three children who are ex Miramar Central students. This is my seventh year teaching at MCS. I am looking forward to learning and growing with the children and their whanau in Room 7. When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, gardening, Tai Chi, learning sign language and relaxing with my family and friends.
Srey Sok
Room 3 Year 5/6 (Hoiho)
[email protected]
Kia Ora! I am thrilled to be starting my teaching career at Te Kura o Whataitai (Miramar Central School). I am super excited to be in Hoiho this year teaching years 5 & 6! I was born in Takeo, Cambodia and moved to Aotearoa in 2012. We settled down in Miramar and I started school here as a year 4. After finishing my schooling journey in Wellington, I moved to Otago and studied a Bachelor of Science before coming back to Wellington to complete my teaching diploma at Victoria University. I enjoyed learning all school subjects, and I cannot wait to teach them to the tamariki at Miramar Central. My personal favourites are art and science! When I'm not at school you will most likely find me at a cafe, sipping on coffee and catching up with friends and family. I also enjoying cooking and crafting while listening to my favourite songs.
Room 3 Year 5/6 (Hoiho)
[email protected]
Kia Ora! I am thrilled to be starting my teaching career at Te Kura o Whataitai (Miramar Central School). I am super excited to be in Hoiho this year teaching years 5 & 6! I was born in Takeo, Cambodia and moved to Aotearoa in 2012. We settled down in Miramar and I started school here as a year 4. After finishing my schooling journey in Wellington, I moved to Otago and studied a Bachelor of Science before coming back to Wellington to complete my teaching diploma at Victoria University. I enjoyed learning all school subjects, and I cannot wait to teach them to the tamariki at Miramar Central. My personal favourites are art and science! When I'm not at school you will most likely find me at a cafe, sipping on coffee and catching up with friends and family. I also enjoying cooking and crafting while listening to my favourite songs.
RELEASE TEACHERS
Gillian Henderwood
CRT Release Teacher
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Kia ora e te whānau. I grew up on a dairy farm in Rerewhakaaitu and my Irish ancestors were potato farmers who migrated to New Zealand to escape the famine. Vegetable gardening is part of my DNA and I love sharing this kaupapa with students at MCS through the Garden to Table programme. I am also a sea swimmer who often arrives at school fresh from the ocean with messy hair. Music and the Arts is my other passion and I love embracing this part of the school curriculum when students are with me for the day. Kei noho watata noa. Kia eke! Don’t let it remain a dream. Go get it!
CRT Release Teacher
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whānau. I grew up on a dairy farm in Rerewhakaaitu and my Irish ancestors were potato farmers who migrated to New Zealand to escape the famine. Vegetable gardening is part of my DNA and I love sharing this kaupapa with students at MCS through the Garden to Table programme. I am also a sea swimmer who often arrives at school fresh from the ocean with messy hair. Music and the Arts is my other passion and I love embracing this part of the school curriculum when students are with me for the day. Kei noho watata noa. Kia eke! Don’t let it remain a dream. Go get it!
Reena Morar
Better Start Literacy Support Teacher/Classroom Support
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whānau, kō Reena tōku ignoa.My name is Reena Morar and I have been teaching at this Kura since 2019. I have been part of the school community since 2015 as my two children went here. Our Kura has a great community that I love being a part of. I especially enjoy working in the junior years, having taught Kindergarten, Early Childhood and New Entrants in Wellington, Singapore and London. I look forward to working with your tamariki in the Pōhutukawa classes.
Better Start Literacy Support Teacher/Classroom Support
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whānau, kō Reena tōku ignoa.My name is Reena Morar and I have been teaching at this Kura since 2019. I have been part of the school community since 2015 as my two children went here. Our Kura has a great community that I love being a part of. I especially enjoy working in the junior years, having taught Kindergarten, Early Childhood and New Entrants in Wellington, Singapore and London. I look forward to working with your tamariki in the Pōhutukawa classes.
Karen Baker
SENCO/Classroom Support
[email protected]
Kia ora koutou, Kō Karen Baker tōku ignoa, kō Ngai Tahu tōku iwi.
I am married to Shaun and we have three children who are all still within the education sector - one at Intermediate level and the other two in Secondary School.
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. Outside of school, we love spending time with our dog at the beach and I love reading, photography and music.
SENCO/Classroom Support
[email protected]
Kia ora koutou, Kō Karen Baker tōku ignoa, kō Ngai Tahu tōku iwi.
I am married to Shaun and we have three children who are all still within the education sector - one at Intermediate level and the other two in Secondary School.
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. Outside of school, we love spending time with our dog at the beach and I love reading, photography and music.
SUPPORT STAFF
Debbie Coburn |
Agnieszka Lowl |
Rosie Leota
|
Shandell Unuka
|
Nate Tinai
Caretaking and cleaning
Lockie (Caretaking) - Hawkins Property Services
Allan and Gavin (Cleaning) - Gates Cleaning Company
Allan and Gavin (Cleaning) - Gates Cleaning Company
Administration
