Our Staff

QUICK LINKS

SCHOOL POLICIES

In this issue

Our balanced staff are all committed professionals who work hard to master their craft. This means they are open to professional learning and value open and honest feedback. They will look for new and innovative ways to engage students in purposeful, engaging learning aimed at developing a strong sense of the world around them.

Ground Control

Jacqui Smith ~ Office Support

Jacqui joined us at MPS in 2022 and is one of the first faces you'll see welcoming you to our school.

Team Take Off

Leanne Lancaster ~ Basecamp

Mrs Lancaster has been associated with MPS for many years. She is one of the fab four teaching our New Entrants in Basecamp.

Team Take Off

Anita Hayes ~ Room 6

Mrs Hayes has been at MPS for a number of years now. Anita is the Leader of Learning for Team Take Off and teaches a Year 2 class in Room 6.

Team Take Off

Nina Ferguson ~ Paeroa

Ms Ferguson joined us at MPS in 2015. Nina teaches Year 3/4 students in Paeroa.

Team Rock Solid

Royce Madigan ~ Room 13

Mr Madigan joined us in 2023. Royce teaches Year 5 & 6 in Room 13.

Team Take Off

Jolanda Forde

Mrs Forde has been associated with MPS for many years. Jolanda teaches throughout the school covering staff on release.

Learning Support

Lia Smith ~ Teacher Aide

Lia joined us at MPS in 2019. Lia is one of our wonderful Teacher Aides & she supports our tamariki to build confidence and success in their learning.

Learning Support

Tracey Adams ~ Teacher Aide

Tracey joined us at MPS in 2025. Tracey is one of our wonderful Teacher Aides & she supports our tamariki to build confidence and success in their learning.

MPS Staff

Our Staff

Welcome to our team, the people who make a difference here at Mt Pleasant School. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any issues, challenges or concerns. We are open to feedback, discussion and do our best to clearly communicate. Emails can be a good way to start a discussion, but often the best place to start is to meet at a time suitable to you both.

Team Rock Solid

Lisa Dowell ~ Deputy Principal + IB Co-ordinator

Ms Dowell joined us at MPS in 2018. Lisa is Deputy Principal, and our IB Co-ordinator.

Ground Control

Maurice Clark ~ Caretaker

Maurice Clark joined the team at MPS in 2022. He is chief ball collector, gardener, pool boy & parking attendant extraordinaire.

Team Take Off

Sharlene Powney ~ Basecamp

Ms Powney joined us at MPS in 2024. Sharlene teaches our New Entrants in Basecamp.

Team Take Off

Andrea Thelning ~ Room 7

Mrs Thelning has been associated with MPS for a number of years now. Andrea teaches Year 2 in Room 7.

Team Magma

Olwen Dieudonné ~ Room 12

Mrs Dieudonné joined us at MPS in 2011. Olwen teaches Year 3 & 4 in Room 12.

Team Rock Solid

Melanie Borgman ~ Waitā

Ms Borgman joined us in 2023. Melanie teaches Year 5/6 in Waitā with Sarah Stanley.

Teaching Staff

Lyndsey Jones

Mr Jones joined us at MPS in 1997. Lyndsey teaches throughout the school covering staff on release.

Learning Support

Gill Suter ~ Teacher Aide

Gill joined us at MPS in 2023. Gill is one of our wonderful Teacher Aides & she supports our tamariki to build confidence and success in their learning.

Ground Control

Cathy Gabites ~ Executive Officer

Cathy joined us at MPS in 2011. Cathy is our Executive Officer, and does an excellent job keeping track of MPS finances.

Ground Control

Kristy Millar ~ Librarian

The fabulous Kristy joined the team at MPS as Librarian in 2018. Kristy is excited about moving into a brand new discovery centre as part of our rebuild in 2019.

Team Take Off

Mollie Ladley ~ Room 4

Miss Ladley joined us at MPS in 2024. Mollie teaches Year 1 students in Room 4.

Team Magma

Pip Overton ~ Paemoana

Mrs Overton joined us in 2023 as our Team Magma Leader of Learning. Pip teaches Year 3 & 4 in Paemoana.

Team Rock Solid

Lisa Chubb ~ Waitī

Mrs Chubb has been associated with MPS since 2011. Lisa is the team leader for Team Rock Solid, Lisa teaches Year 5 & 6 in Waitī.

Team @ The Top

Anita McGowan ~ Toitoi

Miss McGowan joined us at MPS in 2018. Anita is the leader of learning for Team at the Top, she teaches Year 7 & 8 in Toitoi.

Team Rock Solid

Sarah Stanley

Mrs Stanley joined us at MPS in 2018. Sarah teaches throughout the school covering staff on release.

Learning Support

Hayley Foster ~ Teacher Aide

Hayley joined us at MPS in 2024. Hayley is one of our wonderful Teacher Aides & she supports our tamariki to build confidence and success in their learning.

Ground Control

Donna Ellery ~ Principal

Mrs Ellery is our school Principal | Tumuaki. She has joined Mt Pleasant School in Term 2 of 2022 after working for over 20 years in NZ, England and Hong Kong at other International Baccalaureate schools.

Ground Control

Rachael Sara ~ Office Manager

Rachael joined us at MPS in 2016 and is one of the first faces you'll see welcoming you to our school.

Team Take Off

Jane Scotland ~ Basecamp

Miss Scotland joined us at MPS in 2009. She is one of the lovely teachers teaching our New Entrants in Basecamp.

Team Take Off

Louise Wilson ~ Room 5

Ms Wilson joined us at MPS in 2014. Louise teaches Year 1 & 2 students in Room 5.

Team Magma

Jude Campion ~ Room 11

Mrs Campion joined us at MPS in 2016. Jude teaches Year 3 & 4 in Room 11.

Teaching Staff

Kirsty McGowan ~ Waitī

Mrs McGowan joined us at MPS in 2025. Kirsty works with Lisa Chubb in Waitī.

Team @ The Top

Jeremy Griffiths ~ Room 10

Mr Griffiths joined us at MPS in 2013. Jeremy teaches Year 7 & 8 in Room 10.

Learning Support

Clare Byers

Clare has been working as our amazing Reading Recovery teacher at MPS since 2013. Clare is passionate about bringing out the best in our tamariki.

Learning Support

Hamish Bruce ~ Teacher Aide

Hamish joined us at MPS in 2025. Hamish is one of our wonderful Teacher Aides & he supports our tamariki to build confidence and success in their learning.

Some rights reserved Te Kura o Paeraki - Mt Pleasant School , 2024

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