• About the Board • Meet the Board •

Brian Price

brian.price@swannanoa.school.nz

Tena Koe

Ko Maungatere te maunga whakaruruhau

Ko rakahui te awa o te rohe

Ko Ngāi Tūāhuriri te mana whenua

Nāia taku mihi

No Ōtautahi āku whānau engari

He takata tiriti ahau

Kei Kōwai tōku kāinga ināianei

Ko Brian Price tōku ingoa

Ko au te tumuāki o te kura o Koromiko.

Tēna koe te kaiārahi o te kāhui o Puketeraki.

Nō reira, tena koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

My current role on Te Koromiko, Swannanoa School Board is as Tumuaki (principal).

I have been on the Board since late 2015 when I joined this awesome school. I simply love my role and feel privileged to work alongside the board to help set the direction of the school. Our board is a highly motivated group who impress me by the dedication they have for the community and for every single child at Te Koromiko, Swannanoa School. As I look back on the time I have already spent here I can see how much we have achieved as a board and continue to do so. It’s an exciting place to be.

I consider myself a values-based principal and after teaching thousands of children I have a great appreciation of what children need to be successful and I have enjoying watching children turn into adults and achieve amazing things as citizens that is why you will hear me constantly promote activities to build resilience, self-belief, hard work and why I believe so strongly in Ō tātou taonga.

I first became a Principal in 1994 in a sole charge school of 10 children, since then I have worked alongside a wide variety of Boards in a range of contexts. I was principal at Breens Intermediate School prior to coming here where I led the then Hereora Cluster involving Burnside High School and a number of local primary schools. After the Christchurch earthquakes we site shared with Heaton Intermediate and we welcomed Bishopdale Preschool onto our site. During these times I realised the importance of collaborative teaching and how powerful collaboration is. I have previously worked as principal at Burnham, Hanmer Springs, Cust and relieving principal at North Loburn.

I am one of five children and Canterbury born and bred. I am really fortunate to have a close relationship with my siblings, nieces and nephews (I am, of course, the favourite uncle with the best uncle jokes)

I live at Leithfield with my partner Sheryl. We have five children between us and five grandchildren, a Jack Russell and on the very rare occasion a Saturday night with just ourselves. Being surrounded by children has a great influence on my career hence why you hear me say many times, parents are the first and most important teachers. The importance of the school and home working together is essential to help provide the best possible education for our children. Being a parent and grandparent has certainly helped me appreciate the importance of education and expectation of success. Nothing is as important as family and showing Aroha and providing a growth mindset is crucial to model success through hard work and determination.

For the past two years I have been the lead principal for Puketeraki Kāhui Ako which is 18 schools and 30 plus ECE based around the Rangiora area. The aim of this role is to help all schools work together better to benefit the achievement of all learners.

Gill Slaughter (Presiding Member)

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Ko Maukatere te maunga (Maukatere is the mountain)

Ko Waimakariri te awa (Waimakariri is the river)

Nō Ingarangi ōku tīpuna (My ancestors are from England)

I tipu ake au ki Swannanoa (I grew up in Swannanoa)

Ko Gill Slaughter tōku ingoa (Gill Slaughter is my name)

Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa (My acknowledgment to you all)

I am currently the Presiding Member (Chair) of the Board and feel very grateful to work alongside such a dedicated group of people.

I have a passion for bringing people together to influence and impact change. I currently work from a home office while consulting for a range of clients in NZ and Australia as a stakeholder and strategic partnership facilitator. Initially qualified in social sciences (psychology) and community development, I’ve worked in the health sector for many years but had a varied career that includes working in bars and cafes (including as security) graphic design and photography, plus I’m a qualified primary school teacher. My husband Danny and I moved back to Swannanoa from Wellington in 2018 to be close to my elderly father and to enable our son to enjoy the rural lifestyle I recall fondly from growing up in Swannanoa in the 70’s and 80’s.

Annusche de Villiers

Hi, my name is Annusche de Villiers. I have been a member of the Swannanoa School Board for the last three years. I live in the Swannanoa community with my husband, Stephen and our four boys. Henry, Edward and Theodore are currently across two spaces at school while our youngest, George is at Swannanoa Preschool.

I have previously worked as a home based educator in an ECE setting and am currently studying to follow my passion of teaching in the more formal primary school setting.

Ed Tapp

Kia Ora, ko Ed Tapp tōku ingoa. I am the deputy chair for the Te Koromiko Swannanoa School Board. I am married to Julie, who is on the chair of the Home and School committee. We have three children; Rosie in Ruru, Hugh in Karearea and Peter in Piwakawaka.

I work as a business manager for dairy farms throughout the country.

My role on the board is to look after the finance portfolio.

I enjoy being actively involved in our school, working with my fellow board members and the wider school community.

Courtney Black

Hi my name is Courtney Black, along with my husband Hamish we have lived in Swannanoa for the past 9 years. Hamish and I have 2 children, Tom in Hapu 1, and Elodie who is currently attending Swannanoa Preschool.

I have 14 years commercial banking experience and now project manage residential house builds.

I was elected onto the Board of Trustees in 2022 and enjoy working on the many aspects that the Board is involved in. With Tom only starting school in 2022, Hamish and I are enjoying forming deeper connections with the Te Koromiko Swannanoa School community.

Felicity Upjohn

Kia ora

He mihi tēnei ki te mana whenua, arā ko Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

Ko wai au?

Ko Maukatere te Maunga whakaruruhau

Ko Rakahuri te awa whakaora

He takata tiriti ahau.

I whānau mai au ki Hongipua

I tipu ake au i Ingarangi

Engari e noho ana ahau i Waikuku Beach ināianei

Ko Upjohn tōku ingoa whānau

Ko Felicity tōku ingoa

He tumuaki tuarua au ki te kura o Koromiko

Ka tipu te koromiko, ka tipu ngā rangatira mō āpōpō

The koromiko flourishes, as do the leaders of tomorrow

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoua

My name is Felicity and I am the Deputy Principal and Acting Principal in Brian's absence, and because of this I get to be part of this amazing group.

I have been teaching at Te Koromiko Swannanoa School for 9 years and during this time I have had many different roles. My current one is definitely the most challenging but hugely rewarding, I am never sure what each day will bring. Working alongside students, staff and whānau is definitely a huge privilege!

Regan Finch

Kia ora! Hi I'm Regan Finch and I have a son and daughter at Swannanoa School.

My background is in the sports sales where I manage the South Island for Gray Nicolls and Gilbert Rugby.

I am very excited to play a part in our school going from strength to strength and have a particular interest in how we support the wellbeing of students and staff to allow them all to succeed. One of my key roles on the board is property, I think it's important to give our children fun and engaging outdoor activities.