What is the role of the Board: All of New Zealand’s state and state-integrated schools have a board. The board is the Crown entity responsible for the governance and control of the management of the school.

The board is the employer of all staff in the school, is responsible for setting the school’s strategic direction in consultation with parents, staff, and students, and ensuring that its school provides a safe environment and quality education for all its students.

Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance, and administration.

Currently, there are 7 members on the Lemonwood Grove School Board. We come to the board with a wide variety of experience and knowledge and we all have children at the school. The board meets 2 to 3 times per term on a Wednesday at 6pm. The meeting dates are on the school calendar.

Link to the Board Minutes

Members of the school community are welcome to attend the non-public excluded part of meetings. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact the Presiding Member - pips@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz.

If you wish to contact the Board for any other matter, please email bot@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz.

Blair Sara Drew Stacey Pip Joanna Julia

Our Board:

Pip Simmons

• Responsibility: Presiding Member

Kia ora koutou, my name is Pip Simmons. I have three children attending Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School – Will in Year 8, Jack in Year 7 and Archie in Year 4. I’ve had the privilege of serving on the board as a parent representative since 2022 and accepted the role of Presiding Member (Board Chair) in 2025.
Professionally, I bring 11 years’ experience as a Human Resources and Employment Law Consultant where I support businesses with governance, strategic planning, employment relations, leadership development, recruitment, conflict resolution and workplace culture. I believe these skills are directly transferable to board work — ensuring we ask the right questions, maintain clear oversight of school performance, and always put our learners’
wellbeing and achievement at the centre of decision-making.
What motivates me most is helping shape the future of education in a way that reflects the needs and aspirations of our unique and growing community. I am passionate about equity in education, supporting effective teaching and learning, and ensuring that all ākonga feel a strong sense of belonging at school. I also value the importance of good relationships between the board, staff, parents and whānau — and hope to continue building these strong connections, so we’re all working together to prepare our tamariki for life beyond the classroom. Being on the board is a significant responsibility, and a role I take seriously. I enjoy being involved, giving back to my community in a meaningful way and engaging with our school whanāu – if you see me around please come and say Hi!

Drew Winter

• Responsibility: Deputy Presiding Member

I am a parent of two boys—Hamish in Year 6, and my eldest, who started at Lemonwood Grove on day one, now at Rolleston College. I've served on the Board since before the school opened in 2017, including roles like presiding member and finance lead.  Our school has grown rapidly, and the Board has worked hard to support that growth—hiring staff, securing resources, and staying focused on what matters most: our learners. I believe every child deserves a great education, and that starts with great staff. The Board must help create an environment where staff thrive and students succeed.  Outside of school, I work as a Technical Business Analyst at Te Whatu Ora.

Sara Freitag

• Responsibility: Finance

Olá, eu sou a Sara.
I’m mum to Victor and Sophia, who’s starting school in 2025. I’m originally from Brazil and moved to New Zealand in 2013. Our family has been living in Rolleston since 2021, and it’s been wonderful becoming part of this awesome community.
I’m an accountant with a background in auditing financial statements, including schools. For the past six years, I’ve been working in the public sector, focusing on transparency and supporting good decision-making. That includes releasing information to the public, preparing weekly reports for the Minister, and helping answer parliamentary questions. It’s all about making sure the right information gets to the right people at the right time.
Being on the Board has been eye-opening. There’s so much more to running a school than we see from the outside. From supporting staff and managing resources to ensuring the school reflects the values and needs of our community, it has given me a huge appreciation for the mahi that goes into creating a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment for our tamariki.
I’m here to listen, learn, and help however I can to keep making Lemonwood Grove | Te Uru Tarata a place we’re all proud of.

Joanna Hunter

• Responsibility: 

Hi everyone, my name is Joanna. I have two children currently attending Lemonwood Grove School in Years 3 and 5.
I have over 14 years of experience in Finance, Risk, and Audit, and I currently work as the Financial Reporting Manager at Citycare.
Community involvement is something I’m passionate about. I previously served on the Rolleston Toy Library committee for seven years, currently serve on the Inline Hockey New Zealand Board, and am now in my third term as Treasurer of the school PTA. This PTA role has been a fantastic way to connect with both parents and teachers, working together towards shared goals for our children.
I enjoy problem-solving, creating value, and working with diverse groups. If elected, I look forward to bringing these skills to the board to support the school in continuing to achieve its values and beliefs.

Julia Johns

• Responsibility: Health & Safety

Kia ora, my name is Julia Johns and I’m proud to be the mum of two wonderful girls – Tilly, who is in Year 1 and absolutely thriving at Lemonwood Grove, and Izzy, our spirited two-year-old who keeps us all on our toes. As a family, we feel so fortunate to be part of this vibrant school community, and I’m excited at the opportunity to contribute more formally through the School Board.
Professionally, I am the Clinical Services Manager at SHE, the largest affiliated women’s refuge in Aotearoa. I am a registered social worker with over ten years’ experience in the social services sector. My work is grounded in compassion, advocacy, and ensuring safe, supportive environments – all values I see reflected at Lemonwood. In my role, I also hold responsibilities as the Health and Safety Officer and Privacy Officer, which gives me insight into legislative compliance, governance frameworks, and risk management – all of which I would bring to the board table.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at the gym, hanging out with my husband Ben, chasing after our girls, or proudly watching them play rugby, dance at ballet, or build confidence in the pool. I’m keen to give back to the school that gives so much to our tamariki, and I’d be honoured to be part of the governance team shaping the future of Lemonwood Grove.

Blair Dravitski - School Principal

Stacey Park - Staff Representative

Kia ora koutou.
Ko Aoraki te maunga.
Ko Kaiterau/Mt Fyffe te maunga e karanga nei i taku wairua.
Ko Waitake te awa.
Ko Te Taumanu o te Waka a Māui te moana e mahea nei i aku māharahara.
Ko Takitimu te waka.
Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi.
Nō Ōtautahi ahau.
Ko Stacey taku ingoa.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.
Stacey has been a staff member here at Te Uru Tarata Lemonwood Grove since 2021. She has been teaching in schools within the Waitaha/Canterbury region for over 10 years, and is hugely passionate about education in Aotearoa. 
This is her second term serving as a Board of Trustees member, and she is proud to represent the staff perspective, and act as a conduit between the staff and Board. Stacey has been really appreciative of how supportive our Board are during her time at LWG, and she is looking forward to continuing that.