Staff

About Me

Kia ora
Ko Ray taku ingoa.
I am the Deputy Principal and syndicate leader of the senior school syndicate, Te Hokioi.
I have been at Te Aro school since 2005. Before that I worked in London for four years and Gisborne for three years.
Outside of school I enjoy sports with time spent coaching rugby teams and I love mountain biking on Wellington's many tracks. I also visit Lyall Bay and Seatoun beaches often, walking my rather naughty dog.

E: rteahen@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Ko Esther Tamati toku ingoa. (Ngati Porou & Ngati Mutunga) I am super excited to be joining Te Aro kura this year. I will be teaching in Pohutukawa with Ray. I have spent all my life in Dunedin and feel ready for change and challenge. I come from a foodie whanau where both my parents have worked in the food industry, so not surprising that I love to cook. I love to write poetry. It helps me to wind down. You will probably see me playing or coaching Netball (I play WA or GA). I also love fashion, art, history and Kapa haka. Nga mihi nui

E: esthert@tearo.school.nz

About Me

I am a daughter, niece, wife, aunty, and an extremely proud mother of two awesome kids. I come from a hugely supportive and wonderful family. Family is everything to me! My maternal grandfather came to New Zealand in 1933 from India, and soon after made Wellington his home. I too have called Wellington home since I was born here. The waterfront, south coast, and the Brooklyn hills are where you’ll find my family, that is if we are not at the local hockey turf, cricket pitch or nets!
I have been teaching for more than 20 years. At the end of 2017, I gave up full time teaching and my leadership role, so I could spend more time with my kids and enjoy a better work/life balance! I am very grateful to Te Aro School for taking this somewhat opinionated, highly motivated teacher into their kura. I currently work part time in Pohutakawa alongside Katie and Ray., and have been privileged to work in the garden to table cooking programme with the year 5 and 6 tamariki. I have a wealth of literacy knowledge and love connecting with students, colleagues, and whanau through my teaching.
Outside of teaching, I run Junior hockey for the Wellington Indian Sports Club, I love to read, cook, watch sports, take photos, the South Coast of Wellington, spending time with my family, and travelling although I am not a fan of flying! Go figure!

E: meenav@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora koutou,
Ko Katie tōku ingoa.
I am a teacher in Pōhutukawa teaching the Year 7/8 students. I have been working back at Te Aro School this year after two years living in the UK. Before that, I worked at Te Aro for 8 years and also taught in London for four years. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach and baking.

E: atien@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora tātou. Ko Mathew ahau. I have been teaching at this amazing inner city school since 2016. I love the diversity of our community and enjoy learning about and celebrating the cultures of our tamariki. I have taught in a number of schools within Aotearoa, as well as Melbourne, London and South Korea. I am very passionate about The Arts and love contributing to our senior kapa haka and providing students with opportunities to express themselves through visual art. In my downtime I love drinking coffee, listening to music, driving, street photography, swimming and spending time with my whānau.

E: mathewq@tearo.school.nz

About Me

I tipu ake ahau ki te tawharau o Matairangi. Ko te Moana o Raukawa te Moana e rū nei tōku ngakau. Nō Ingarani, nō kotirana, nō Wīwī ōku tupuna, nō reira, ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te waka e whakatūhono ana. Kei te noho ahau ki te Motu Kairangi. He kaiako au ki a Rūma Mānuka. I'm Tess and I teach year 5's and 6's in Rūma Mānuka with Mathew. I started teaching at Te Aro in 2015 as a relief teacher, and was lucky to be offered a full time job a few years later. I feel so lucky to work at the coolest school in Wellington, with some of the most fabulous teachers and the coolest kids in the city. When I am not teaching I like doing lots of different things. I'm passionate about learning te reo Māori, and even though learning a language is a challenge, I love it. I love getting outdoors on the weekends when the weather lets me. I like rock climbing, tramping, swimming, and riding my bike.

E: tessad@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Tēnā koutou Ko Ella tōku ingoa. I am so excited to be joining Te Aro School's whānau where I am teaching years 2 and 3 in Rūma Kauri. I have previously worked as a Teacher Aide and in government, each of which guided me towards a career in teaching. Outside of mahi I love visiting my whānau, reading, drawing, and listening to music.

E: ellad@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora Koutou,
Ko Anna toku ingoa.
I am the Deputy Principal responsible for the Tuatara Syndicate our Year 0-4 whānua. I also teach in Rūma Nīkau at Y 3 / 4. Outside of school I am a keen practitioner of Karate. I train with Seido Karate and have done so for the last 30 years. I love being outside gardening, swimming in the sea and generally hanging out with my family.

E: annam@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora koutou, Ko Jonny tōku ingoa. I am a teacher in Rūma Tarata as well as Rūma Nīkau, Tawa and wherever else I'm needed. I'm really excited to start my first full year teaching here at Te Aro, after providing relief cover in Terms 3 and 4 last year. I have only been living here in Aotearoa/New Zealand since 2022, having moved, together with my partner, from my home country of the UK. When I'm not teaching, I love spending time in nature, playing tennis, running and exploring new places.

E: jonnya@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora koutou. Ko Sheila toku ingoa. I have taught in Wellington on and off for the last 15 years, my longest stint being at Mt Cook School where I taught full time in a Year 2 class before having my own children. I’ve done some part time teaching in the past few years but have mainly been focusing on my family. Over the last seven years I have spent a lot of time at Brooklyn Playcentre playing and learning alongside my children and more recently teaching adult education to Playcentre parents. My youngest child will be starting school this year so I’m ready to get back into the classroom. I’m really pleased to be able to be a part of the Te Aro School community.

E: sheilam@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora Koutou, Ko Serah Mehrtens tāku ingoa, Nō Te tai Tokerau ahau. My name is Serah and I team teach in Tawa whānau with Eva. We work with the the New Entrant students. I have moved to Wellington from the Far North this year. I am enjoying being part of the Te Aro School community and learning all about the diverse range of students we have here. I love the schools unique position on the Terrace and I think it is a beautiful setting for us to be working in. I am excited about the year ahead and I look forward to meeting all of you. When I am not at mahi I am usually walking my dog, cooking, being near the water or reading. Mauri Ora!

E: serahm@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia ora! Ko Eva tōku ingoa. I teach in Rūma Tawa alongside Serah. I am excited to join the team at Te Aro School and look forward to helping our youngest students learn and grow. I grew up in Dunedin and now live in Brooklyn. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking and spending time with my family and friends.

E: evas@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia Ora
Ko Bernice McMahon ahau.
My role at Te Aro is as Learning support teacher, which means I support the teachers of children who have an identified extra teaching and learning need. To do this I may work with children individually or in a group or I may work with the teachers and teacher aides who support our children.

E: bernicem@tearo.school.nz

About Me

Kia Ora,
I’m Cathie and my main teaching role here at Te Aro is working with our English language learners, both in their classrooms and in smaller groups. I am responsible for our ‘First Language Time’ programme which encourages students to share, maintain and be proud of their home languages and cultures.
I also help with organising our library and promoting book related events, which gives me the chance to feed my passion for children’s literature!
I love that Te Aro has such a diverse group of learners and I feel really lucky to work with students, whānau and colleagues from around the world.

E: ccahill@tearo.school.nz

About Me

E:

About Me

Kia ora koutou. Ko Kirsty tōku ingoa. I am a Resource Teacher of Literacy, based at Te Aro School. I work and teach in primary schools in Central Wellington and the Northern Suburbs, supporting students, and their teachers, with their literacy learning. I am fortunate to work in a rewarding role that draws on my love for teaching reading and writing. In my leisure time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two sons, reading, cooking, walking, and watching my boys play sport.

E: kirsty.rtlit@tearo.school.nz