Miramar Central Staff
Leadership Team
Jackie Sutherland - Principal
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Belinda Walker- Deputy Principal, Team Leader - Kauri
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Tracy Shanks - Assistant Principal, Team Leader - Pōhutukawa
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Jackie Sutherland - Principal
[email protected]
Belinda Walker- Deputy Principal, Team Leader - Kauri
[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)
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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.
Michelle Li
Room 7 Year 3/4 (Takahē)
[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 7 Year 3/4 (Takahē)
[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.
Julie Solomon
Room 6 Year 2/3 (Pūkeko)
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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
Belinda Walker
Deputy Principal, Kauri Team Leader
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whanau. What a privilege it is to now be a part of your community. I have been teaching for too many years to count, in both New Zealand and the U.K. I have a heart for children and a passion for quality education, both of which drive me to support schools, whanau, students and teachers. My areas of specialty are the teaching of mathematics, writing, visual arts, science. I am a mum of one and step mum to three, all of whom are my life. And of course my dog, Milo, who makes me smile every day. I love art, so outside of school you will often find me in galleries looking at art, or with my own paintbrush in hand. I look forward to getting to know you and contributing to your children's learning journey.
Deputy Principal, Kauri Team Leader
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whanau. What a privilege it is to now be a part of your community. I have been teaching for too many years to count, in both New Zealand and the U.K. I have a heart for children and a passion for quality education, both of which drive me to support schools, whanau, students and teachers. My areas of specialty are the teaching of mathematics, writing, visual arts, science. I am a mum of one and step mum to three, all of whom are my life. And of course my dog, Milo, who makes me smile every day. I love art, so outside of school you will often find me in galleries looking at art, or with my own paintbrush in hand. I look forward to getting to know you and contributing to your children's learning journey.
Kim Meredith
Room 2 Year 5/6 (Whio)
[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)
[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.
Karen Baker
Room 3 Year 5/6 (Hoiho)
[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. It is an absolute privilege to teach your children in Years 5 and 6 this year in Hoiho/Rm 3 alongside the other Kauri Team members.
Room 3 Year 5/6 (Hoiho)
[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. It is an absolute privilege to teach your children in Years 5 and 6 this year in Hoiho/Rm 3 alongside the other Kauri Team members.
Jamie Byas
Room 1 Year 4 (Kākāpō)
[email protected]
Kia Ora e te Whānau,
I’m very excited to have started my teaching career with the year 4/5 students at MCS and now year 4 for 2025!
I grew up in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin after the earthquakes when I was in Year 7. I moved to Wellington last year 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 1 Year 4 (Kākāpō)
[email protected]
Kia Ora e te Whānau,
I’m very excited to have started my teaching career with the year 4/5 students at MCS and now year 4 for 2025!
I grew up in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin after the earthquakes when I was in Year 7. I moved to Wellington last year 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.
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/ORs Support
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Kia ora e te whānau. It’s great to be back at Miramar Central School for 2025! Our Kura has a great community that I love being a part of. I have two children, both have gone through MCS and I also live locally. 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/ORs Support
[email protected]
Kia ora e te whānau. It’s great to be back at Miramar Central School for 2025! Our Kura has a great community that I love being a part of. I have two children, both have gone through MCS and I also live locally. 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.
Kelly Forbes
Room 1 Year 4 (Kākāpō) PRT Release Teacher
Room 12 Year 0/1 (Kiwi) Leadership Release
[email protected]
Room 1 Year 4 (Kākāpō) PRT Release Teacher
Room 12 Year 0/1 (Kiwi) Leadership Release
[email protected]
SUPPORT STAFF
Debbie Coburn |
Agnieszka Lowl |
Rosie Leota
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Shandell Unuka
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Nate Tinai
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Jenna Beineke
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Caretaking and cleaning
Lockie (Caretaking) - Hawkins Property Services
Allan and Gavin (Cleaning) - Gates Cleaning Company
Allan and Gavin (Cleaning) - Gates Cleaning Company
Administration
