Year 5 Teacher & Class Release Teacher

My email: sarahh@devonport.school.nz

My roles

• Year 5 Teacher (shared class with Andrew Robinson)

• Class Release Teacher (releasing classroom teachers so they can undertake planning, evaluation and reporting requirements)

My teaching philosophy

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited" - Plutarch

Plutarch is the philosophy which underpins my teaching practice. As a teacher I want to help students identify and embrace their individual strengths and passions. I want to help students develop and nurture their own inner "spark" and motivation to learn. This means learning needs to be fun, relevant, and meaningful to students.

I am also very interested in the importance of fostering a positive classroom culture. I believe that within the classroom students need to feel valued, safe and respected to share their ideas and take risks with their learning. Because of this I always aim to foster a positive, constructive classroom culture where students are encouraged to value and respect themselves, their peers and to celebrate differences and what makes us unique. It is within this type of environment that students' wellbeing, confidence and learning can truly flourish.

My experience/qualifications

I started teaching in 2007 at St Michael's in Remuera. I started as a Year 4 classroom teacher, and then later set up and taught their extension program. After having my children I returned to teaching at Hauraki Primary School (Years 3 & 4) before moving to Devonport Primary in 2021. I have a Bachelor of Education.

My special educational interests

• Literacy, especially writing. 

• Wellbeing & growth mindset. 

• I also love teaching STEAM and Akomanga Ngahere (forest learning) which are more collaborative and team building learning areas

About me

I was born in Sydney, Australia. My family and I moved to Devonport when I was 6, so I have been lucky enough to call Devonport home for many years now. My husband Caleb and I have three gorgeous children; Ava, Leo and Isla. We also have three fur babies; Teddy our golden retriever and Frankie & Snowy our ragdoll rascals. Alongside teaching, I am also the General Manager of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Services, a role I have had for many years. I have always wanted to volunteer to help with wildlife conservation at a Wildlife Sanctuary Reserve in South Africa, something I plan to do when my children are older. I also would love to write a series of children's books.