Our People 2024

As a group we all contribute to the success of our children's education. Click the links below to jump to a group of our team.

Cath Blacklow

Lead Principal
principal@st-josephs.school.nz

Kia ora koutou, talofa lava, malo e lelei', kia ora orana, kamusta and hello.

My name is Cath Blacklow and I took up the exciting position of Lead Principal in July of 2021. I am currently the Principal of St Joseph's School in Ashburton and have been the Principal at St Joseph's for the past 9 years.

I firmly believe we are in a unique position to be able to draw upon one another as a collective group to enhance educational practice and provide rich learning opportunities to maximise learning for our valued and diverse learners.

It is a real pleasure to be the Lead Principal of such a capable group of principals, teachers and tamariki.   I am excited to be working in the Kāhui Ako space and look forward to ensuring our strategic plan is actioned and that we are successful to lifting achievement across the Hakatere Kāhui Ako. I hope to lead with enthusiasm and integrity ensuring collaboration is developed across the Kāhui ako for the good of our wider school community.

Ngā mihi nui.

Across School Teachers

The purpose of the across schools teacher role is to support improvement in student achievement and well-being by strengthening teaching practice.
We currently have 4 across school teachers working within the Hakatere Kāhui Ako. These teachers are highly skilled, experienced educators who come to us from diverse educational backgrounds.

Monique Reay

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Kia ora koutou, Ko Monique Reay tōku ingoa. I have been teaching for just over ten years; the first six years in early childhood, and the following five years at Tinwald School. This year I moved out of New Entrants and I am currently teaching Year 1 and 2. I am excited to take on the challenge of an Across School Lead role. In particular, I am eager to be an advocate and support to the teachers in early childhood centres and Kindys within our Kāhui, and use my knowledge of the sector to support children as they transition into primary school. I look forward to the new learning and opportunities that are up ahead in this role.

Liz Wells

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Kia ora koutou, Ko Liz tōku ingoa, Kei te mahi au Wakanui Kura. I have been teaching for over 20 years and I have taught in mainly the Primary sector with some experience in the Secondary setting as well. I am currently at Wakanui School in a job-share position in a Year 3 class. I am excited to have the opportunity to step into this role as the newest Hakatere Across School Teacher. Being able to work with my fellow AST and colleagues as we work towards the same goal of supporting improvement in student achievement and well-being by strengthening teaching practices is something I look forward to doing.

Caroline Morten

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Kia ora koutou. Ko Caroline Morten tōku ingoa. He kaiako ahau ki te kura o Hekeao (Hinds). This is my second year in the across school role for the Kāhui ako o Hakatere. This year, I am looking forward to supporting the development of kaiako knowledge of our local Pakiwaitara (stories) and cultural narrative, strengthening relationships across the Kāhui. Alongside my Kāhui role, I team-teach in the year 7 and 8 class at Hinds School. This is a new year level for me as a teacher and I am loving the challenge and new learning it brings.

Renae List

Ashburton College

lir@ashcoll.school.nz

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Mauri ora kia koutou. Ko wai au? Ko Renae List toku ingoa. He kaiako au ki te kura o Ashburton College. I am an English teacher at Ashburton College, and one of the kaiako who work with our Māori Ako class. I am in my 13th year of teaching, and have worked in both Primary and Secondary school settings. I am passionate about creating learning spaces where all ākonga feel valued, and can learn in a way which draws on their strengths. Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te katoa. Nō reira, Mauri ora ki a koutou.

Within School Teachers

Anna Harper

Ashburton Borough School

anna.harper@ashborough.school.nz

Mel Sloan

Ashburton-Netherby School

Vicky Poole

Ashburton College

pl@ashcoll.school.nz

Liz Carrick

Ashburton College

ce@ashcoll.school.nz

Claire Tomkinson

Amanda Ferguson

Stacey Monk

Ashburton College

mx@ashcoll.school.nz

Jemma Hurst

Ashburton College

hr@ashcoll.school.nz

Jo Wakelin

Ashburton College

we@ashcoll.school.nz

Steph Mc Callum  

St. Joseph's School

steph@st-josephs.school.nz

Andrew Czerski

Ashburton Intermediate School

aczerski@ashinter.school.nz

Amanda Graham

Ashburton Intermediate School

agraham@ashinter.school.nz

Emily-Jane Farr

Sarah Lovell

Margaret Butler

Ashburton Christian School

m.butler@acs.school.nz

Steering Group

The Steering group is made up of the 12 principals and Early childhood leaders who are members of the Hakatere Kāhui Ako - The Steering Group meet twice a term in week 3 and 8 to discuss progress made related to the current Strategic plan.

Kalena Hirst

Allenton Free Kindergarten

Andrew Leverton

Allenton School

Tiipene Phillip

Trena Watt

Peter Livingstone

Tinwald School

Cath Blacklow

St. Joseph's School

Phil Wheeler

Ashburton-Netherby School

Neil Simons

Longbeach School

Amanda Ferguson

Hinds School

Claudine Campbell

Hampstead School

Jude Irwin

Fairton School

Brent Gray

Ashburton Intermediate School

Ange Mitchell

Ashburton College

Tim Kuipers

Ashburton Christian School

Emma Hewitt

Ashburton Borough School

Support Team

Learning Support Coordinators

The Hakatere Kāhui Ako are pleased to have the additional resource of 7 full time learning support coordinators.  The learning support team comprises of Annabel Brook, Annie Lee, Jan Church, Juliet Johnstone, Lesley Millar, Hannah White and Sheree Tait.

Our learning support coordinators are attached to specific schools, but available to support the learning needs of all our tamariki as and when required throughout the Kāhui Ako.  The LSC team meets frequently to network, build relationships and collegiality, share ideas, resources, experiences, challenges and successes.  

Kaumatua

Tiipene Phillip is the Kaumatua for our Hakatere Kāhui Ako. Tiipene spent many years as an Across School Lead  prior to last year when he finished in this role. We invited Tiipene to continue in a Kaumatua role as he has a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful connection to the Hakatere Marae.
We continue to enjoy the support that he gives us,  greatly appreciating his input into our collective mahi through his passion for Te Reo language and Te ao Māori.