Hero photograph
 
Photo by Leoni Combrink

Johnathon Markham

Ros Jackson —

Hagley teachers care, yes they do.

Johnathon is a member of our IT team and has been working at Hagley for nearly 4 years. When Johnathon was six years old he started to become interested in computers. At first it was playing computer games but, as he got older, programming drew him in. He began to teach himself coding and could sense this was an area he would like to be involved in and could perhaps lead to a career in computing. Johnathon started using Ruby, C++ and other more advanced languages.

Johnathon left Linwood College and went to Christchurch Polytechnic (now ARA) to study a Diploma in ICT. After completing this course, Johnathon heard there was a possibility of a job at Hagley, and he was successful in gaining this position. He is a valuable member of the team, who starts later in the morning and finishes at 7pm to allow support for our After 3 kaiako and ākonga. This timetable means he has Fridays off which he appreciates because it allows more time to spend with his partner.

Last year Johnathon went on a trip to the USA and when asked what the highlight of this trip was he said meeting two of his online mates and seeing them in person, face to face. He also met the owner of “Hack Forums”, a site Johnathon has spent 3-4 years on (Hack Forums is an internet forum and a popular destination for hackers and script kiddies. Forum topics include security, technology, general computing and social media).

Johnathon loves his job at Hagley and wishes he had come here as a student. As Johnathon moves around the College, he sees a lot of teaching and he ends our interview with; “Hagley teachers care, yes they do”.