Over the next few months we will be introducing our Board of Trustees, with the vision of helping you get to know them a little more. Our first two introductions are John and Samantha.

John Rutherford - Board Chair

My name is John Rutherford and I am excited to be serving on the Albany Junior High School Board of Trustees. My partner Kim and I have had both our children go through AJHS, and have been extremely appreciative of the hard work, commitment and care they have received from the staff during their journey through the school.

I’ve been in education for 43 years as a teacher, deputy principal and have been a principal in 4 different schools. During my time in the education sector I worked for the Ministry of Education and worked as an Education Consultant for Cognition Education. I retired from teaching at the end of 2021 and now work part time outdoors doing garden clean ups and landscaping to keep active.

I have served on the Albany Primary School BOT and am currently serving as presiding member (board chair) at AJHS. I am also on the BOT at Albany Senior High School.

Working part time has helped create flexibility in my week, enabling me to better support AJHS in the role of board chair.

As part of my commitment to the community, I also volunteer at the North Shore Riding for the Disabled (RDA) where I help with the riding programme and grounds maintenance.

I’m passionate about our children’s wellbeing and success, and am committed to ensuring our schools are safe places for both children and staff and that our teaching programmes support our children to realise their goals and ambitions.

Our children, their families and our staff have been through an incredibly challenging time over the last few years. Our focus on providing a safe environment for all is critical to enable good mental health and wellbeing so that our children can learn effectively and thrive - not just survive.

Samantha Ebel-Brown

My name is Samantha Ebel-Brown and I am a member of the board at Albany Junior High School (AJHS). I have two children and my son is in Year 10 at AJHS.

I am a commercial interior designer and have had my own business for 12 years. I love the process of design and creating spaces that people can thrive in.

I decided to apply for the board role at AJHS because I could see what Cushla and the SLT were working to create for the students and staff at the school, and wanted to help support that. We are really lucky to have such student-focused leadership and staff at AJHS.

I have experience as a board member and currently serve on the Greenhithe school board too. Being a school board member has allowed me to serve the school around my work and use my property skills. And I really enjoy it!

I am passionate about children's wellbeing and mental health. Our children have been through so much over the last three years and have navigated some challenging situations. My time on the AJHS board so far has shown me that we must keep the needs of the children at the forefront of all we do.

When I am not designing I love to bake, crochet and sew. I’m not an expert at any of these, but I thoroughly enjoy the process of creating something. I have also studied as an integrative health coach to help me understand the link between wellbeing and design.

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