PROFILE

Kia ora koutou,

I live on a small beef and forestry block in the hills just north of Whangārei with my husband, Craig (who I’m quite fond of), 4 spoilt ponies, 2 adored border collies and an assortment of chickens.  I have lived and worked in Tai Tokerau for more than 50 years so while not born here, Tai Tokerau has my heart.  I have been an RTLB since 2005 and became a Practice Leader in the Tai Tokerau South Cluster (2) at the beginning of 2012 (the year we transformed to 40 clusters). 

I have had an abiding interest in Trauma Informed Practice since being given Perry’s seminal work “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by an MOE colleague in 2008.  My current focus is on developing ways of working with school staff which support foundational shifts in their perspectives, language and approach which allows for co-regulation to occur, promotes a felt sense of safety and develops sustainable practices allowing for social and emotional growth and wellbeing for Tumuaki, Kaiako, ākonga and whānau. 

I feel incredibly privileged to be involved with the development of this network and believe strongly in the power of the peer. RTLB are an amazing group of professionals who, in all of my experience, go above and beyond to support their colleagues and our most vulnerable ākonga.

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Mā te whakātu, ka mohio, mā te mohio ka marama, mā te marama ka matau, mā te matau ka ora. 

With discussion comes knowledge, with knowledge comes light and understanding,

with light and understanding comes wisdom, with wisdom comes wellness.