Welcoming New Teachers for 2025
It is with great pleasure that we introduce seven new teachers who will be joining our teaching team at the start of 2025.
David RankinYear 4-6 TeamKia Ora whānau and tamariki, I am happy to be introducing myself as a new teacher next year at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau.
I grew up in Invercargill and worked as a shepherd at Elfin Bay high country sheep station before eventually training as a teacher in Dunedin. My family had a crib in the Queenstown camping ground where I spent many summers combing the hills and fishing at Moke Lake. I returned to Invercargill for my first teaching job and then on to Marton, Blenheim and Christchurch. In the last few years I have been resettling into New Zealand following almost 5 years teaching English, Maths and Science in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). I come to you from Kaiapoi Borough School in Christchurch where I was the Yr 5-6 Team Leader.
I am very excited to be joining your kura, a school Bron and I have visited a number of times over the last year or so. I look forward to connecting with you in the New Year. Enjoy your holiday season and keep safe. Nga mihi David Rankin |  |
Jess McLeayYear 4-6 TeamI'm excited to be joining the team at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau as a new teacher next year. Originally from Gisborne, I moved to Queenstown in 2022 and have since fallen in love with the outdoor lifestyle. When I'm not at school, you'll find me skiing or mountain biking, making the most of Queenstown's stunning landscapes. Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a dentist, and I'm excited to bring my passion for health and science into the classroom. I was fortunate to complete a 7 week placement in Bayonet Hapori earlier this year, where I was welcomed by a strong sense of community and collaboration. I'm thrilled to return in 2025 as a full time teacher and look forward to being a part of the wonderful community here at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau! |  |
Riley ChandlerYear 7-8 TeamKia ora! My name is Riley Chandler, and I am incredibly excited to join the team at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau. Growing up in Queenstown, surrounded by the mountains and lakes, was a privilege, and I feel so fortunate to return to my hometown. After spending the past five years teaching in Christchurch, most recently at St Margaret’s College, I am looking forward to connecting with the wonderful staff, ākonga, and whānau in this awesome community. I hold a Bachelor of Teaching, endorsed in Primary Education, from The University of Otago. I am passionate about building strong, positive relationships with students, whānau, and the wider community. My goal as a teacher is to inspire the ākonga I work with to embrace challenges, uncover their strengths, and grow into individuals who will positively contribute to the world around them. Outside the classroom, my passions lie in sport— especially hockey, running, and skiing. As a participant in the Sports New Zealand Coaching for Impact programme, I have had the privilege of dedicating much of my spare time to coaching high-performance hockey. Additionally, I have a strong love for the performing arts, having spent much of my childhood dancing, including the unforgettable opportunity to perform at Disneyland. I am thrilled to bring my energy and passion to this kura. I look forward to making learning engaging and fun for the ākonga I teach in the hope that I can help them grow not only as learners but as people too. Ngā mihi Riley |  |
Jess WilsonYear 7-8 TeamKia Ora, My name is Jess Wilson. I am from Dunedin, where I was born and raised. I have just finished my studies at the University of Otago to become a beginning teacher. Some things about me are I am a surf lifeguard, so I’ve spent a lot of time at the beach and around the water, I love to spend time outdoors, and I love to read in my spare time. I’m super excited to become part of the team at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau, and becoming part of your community. |  |
Jaime LamondYear 1 TeamKia Ora! I am very excited to be joining the Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau whānau for 2025. I grew up in Mid Canterbury before moving to Queenstown in 2019. I recently completed my Bachelor of Primary Teaching degree with the University of Canterbury and am beyond excited to enter the classroom next year! I have been working within early childhood centres for the last two years and really love seeing ākonga reach their full potential. I enjoy incorporating creativity into the classroom. In my spare time you can find me playing live music, spending time with our flat dog (Toto) and just enjoying this beautiful place we live in. I am looking forward to meeting you all! |  |
Nesa PrasadYear 2-3 TeamKia ora and Talofa lava! My name is Nesa Tuigamala Prasad, and I am thrilled to be joining the teaching whānau at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau. Building strong relationships with whānau, learners, and the wider school community is central to my teaching philosophy. I am passionate about creating a learning environment where learners can thrive, build lasting friendships, and develop the skills and confidence to become great learners who reach their full potential. I was born in Samoa and we arrived in Invercargill in my early years before being raised in Auckland. So moving to Queenstown feels like coming home after many years of it being a holiday destination for our family. Outside of school, I absolutely love and cherish spending time with our six children and granddaughter in Auckland and Australia, as well as my church whānau. I have a deep love for my faith, cultural performing arts, reading, water walking, walking in nature, and cafes! I am also a publisher of Pasifika children’s bilingual books, which allows me to celebrate cultural diversity and inspire a love of storytelling and language. My husband Umesh, youngest daughter Ester, who will be attending Wakatipu High School, and I are excited for the new season, and I look forward to meeting you all. Ia manuia |  |
Samantha DelarueYear 2-3 TeamKia ora everyone! I’m thrilled to be joining the teaching team and can’t wait to meet everyone very soon. I bring over ten years of experience as a primary school teacher, having taught across all year levels in settings as diverse as large schools on the Gold Coast, with over 1200 students, to tiny far north Queensland schools where crocodiles would occasionally swim past my classroom window and spotting snakes on the playground was part of daily life! I’ve also spent time as a PE teacher, worked in inclusive education and taken on leadership roles, but my favourite place is in the classroom, connecting with students and fostering a love for learning.
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