by Sarah Turner

LSM Support

Kia ora koutou

Greetings to the parent/whanau community of Crawshaw School.
My name is Shawn Gielen and following the board's request to the Ministry of Education for support, Jocelyn Mikaere, the Deputy Secretary for Sector Enablement and Support of the Ministry of Education, has confirmed my appointment as the Limited Statutory Manager for the Crawshaw School Board of Trustees, as gazetted on the 25th of January 2022.

I have had extensive governance and leadership experience as a primary school principal and educational consultant working across a wide range of schooling contexts, involving current interventions. I will be taking responsibility from the Board for all functions, powers and duties regarding:

  • Curriculum
  • Employment
  • Policy and Procedure

and advisement for the board on

  • Communications
  • Property


The board retains powers of health and safety, and finance. The responsibility for running the school on a day to day basis remains with the principal and my appointment will not affect the school's operational ability. A Limited Statutory Manager has no more power than the existing board of trustees, yet can provide a fresh specialist perspective on matters the board may be finding challenging.


The purpose of any intervention is to support the governance of a school and return it to full self-management as soon as the recommendations of the intervention have been met. Interventions are usually reviewed by the Ministry after a 12 month period. An intervention remains in place until the Secretary or Minister considers that either the intervention is no longer required or there is a change in the level of risk and another type of intervention is required.


I have begun the scoping phase of the intervention, carrying out interviews and documentation analysis, focusing on the strengths and potential areas for improvement within the school. I will prepare a scoping report that is presented to the Ministry and the board where then an action plan will be developed in consultation with the Ministry and the board for taking the school forward.


Further updates will be put out from the board and I as information comes to hand. I look forward to getting to know the people of the Crawshaw community.

Nga mihi nui

Shawn Gielen
Limited Statutory Manager - Crawshaw School
Christine Charteris
Presiding Member - Crawshaw Board of Trustees