Teaching Team

Andrea came to us from Lincoln Primary School, and prior to that, Clarkville School. She is an experienced junior school teacher and is an advocate of teaching and learning in collaborative environments.

Andrea has a passion for child-led learning, especially Inquiry, student engagement and children being given an appropriate choice to direct their own learning. She has a BSc and has undertaken further professional development in leading science teaching.

Andrea chooses to live in our school community in Lincoln with her husband, Stephen and their daughters, Kaetlyn and Emma. Living in the local community, you may bump into Andrea out and about at local venues and family events, where she is always happy to say hi.

You can contact Andrea via andrea.harrison@ararira.school.nz

Anna has over 15 years experience teaching all year levels, with over a decade of experience working in the junior school. Anna has an unwavering commitment to nurturing the potential in every child and is a passionate advocate for student success and cultivating a love of learning.

Anna has enjoyed her own personal journey of learning Te Reo and incorporating it into her teaching practice. Raised in Christchurch, Anna briefly lived in England before returning to Hoon Hay with her husband Nick and three children Eva, Eddie and Estelle. In her spare time Anna is often on the sideline of the sports field or coaching a team. Anna will often be found at different  campgrounds around the motu, especially if they are close to the beach.

You can contact Anna via anna.grigor@ararira.school.nz

Angela comes to Ararira Springs with more than 10 years of teaching experience and a special interest in developing literacy in the junior school. She loves it when children’s faces light up and believes in sparking curiosity by providing engaging, fun learning opportunities. She is committed to ensuring holistic growth in each child so children can reach their full potential through meaningful learning experiences while developing necessary skills in a growing digital world. 

Angela grew up in Dunedin and, prior to moving to Canterbury, lived and taught English in Japan for 4 years. It is there that she met her husband, Patrick, with whom she has two children, Sophie and Michael. She enjoys spending quality time with family, travelling, reading, singing and watching the latest productions at the Isaac Theatre Royal. 

You can contact Angela via angela.shea@ararira.school.nz

April has been working in a part-time capacity at Ararira Springs since it opened in 2019. This year she is teaching year twos and threes in Hikuwai.

April likes to create a space that is welcoming, positive and inclusive, where all students feel safe to contribute their thoughts and ideas. She wants her students to be active and engaged in the learning process. April likes teaching all subjects but she especially enjoys teaching maths, writing and art.

April is originally from Southland and has previously taught for two years on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand, four years in England and six years in Alaska. 

She currently lives in Springston with her husband, Paul, and their three children Isla, Abel and Eben. She loves spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors. When she has spare time she enjoys gardening and reading.

You can contact April via april.tougasapril.tougas@ararira.school.nz

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Brooklyn is a beginning teacher and is very excited to be joining the Ararira Springs community.

She attended the University of Canterbury completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on Education and Māori and Indigenous Studies. She is passionate about incorporating this into her teaching. Brooklyn then gained a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning.  I have also completed three years of night classes towards NZSL which I am excited to include in the classroom.

Brooklyn grew up in Lincoln attending both Lincoln Primary and high school. She now lives in Wigram with her best friends, and her whānau still lives in Lincoln. She loves playing social and competitive sports, including volleyball, touch and netball. Brooklyn enjoys taking the family dog on walks, playing team sports, and hanging out with her friends.

Brooklyn is super excited to begin her teaching journey, to learn and develop alongside the tamariki. She believes that creating positive relationships with tamariki is extremely valuable in ensuring that everyone has a sense of belonging in their class.

You can contact Brooklyn via brooklyn.neame@ararira.school.nz

You can contact Casey via casey.mcpherson@ararira.school.nz

Crystal is really looking forward to beginning her teaching journey at Ararira Springs in 2025! 

She has recently completed a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning at the University of Canterbury, where she particularly enjoyed focusing on inclusive education and teaching for diverse learners. She is also passionate about instilling a love for reading and writing in learners.

She lives in Rolleston with her whānau and border collie named Ace. She loves playing netball, doing yoga, reading and spending time outdoors.

Crystal values positive connections with learners and their whānau, and is excited to get to know the members of the Ararira Springs community!

You can contact Crystal via crystal.edminstin@ararira.school.nz

​Kia ora e te Ararira whānau, Ko Dan Horwell tōku ingoa. My whānau has been a part of the Ararira hapori from day one with both my daughters attending the kura.

I am a highly motivated and passionate kaiako who is ready to inspire the future of Aotearoa. Curious by nature I love learning about the world around us and sharing this learning with others.

I am passionate about providing equitable learning experiences for all my ākonga that are fun and engaging and that get them to explore new things. All ākonga are unique and are at the centre of learning, by working with them and their whānau we

can empower them to become caring and capable citizens.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my beautiful whānau and friends, supporting the Warriors, and playing disc golf. I also love exploring our beautiful country whether it be paddling our waterways, running the trails, or by bike.

You can contact Dan via dan.horwell@ararira.school.nz

Deb is a passionate teacher with over 27 years of teaching experience. She came to us at the start of 2020 from Lincoln Primary School where she taught New Entrants and Year 4’s. Prior to Lincoln Primary School, Deb taught at Somerfield Primary for 18 years at Banks Avenue School.

Deb believes in the best outcomes for all students by having high expectations. She seeks to inspire students through authentic, innovative and rich learning opportunities, particularly through play. She encourages children to be brave and take risks with their learning. Deb can often be found learning alongside children and their passions. Māori values are very important in the spaces where she teaches- aroha, manaaki, and children learning with and from each other are the norm.

Deb is originally from Southbridge, grew up in Halswell and attended Lincoln High School. She has lived in Lincoln with her husband Cary and their two children Leah (20) and Henry (15) for the last 20 years.  When Deb is not at school, she is a regular at the Lincoln Rec Centre, enjoys reading, spending time with the family and running. She is often out and about in the community and loves living and working locally.

You can contact Deb via deb.wesley@ararira.school.nz

You can contact Emma via emma.murphy@ararira.school.nz

You can contact Jamie via jamie.gunby@ararira.school.nz

Leonie grew up in the Manawatu and moved to Lincoln with her family 7 years ago. She has been teaching at our kura for the past 4 years. Leonie has over 20 years of teaching experience, having taught across all ages in the Manawatu, Auckland and Selwyn, including working alongside Harold the giraffe at the Life Education Trust. 

She is married to Cam and they have 2 busy girls and 2 very lazy greyhounds. Leonie enjoys walking, reading, gardening and spending time with her family.

Leonie believes building strong relationships is the key to a successful partnership between home and school. She fosters a positive learning environment where children contribute and feel genuinely valued. Leonie works alongside children to foster their needs and interests, developing their independence and curiosity. 

You can contact Leonie via leonie.pengelly@ararira.school.nz

Maree joined the Ararira Team in May 2023.

Growing up in Oamaru, then training at the Dunedin College of Education, Maree started her teaching career in Blenheim. From here like many New Zealanders overseas beckoned and Maree spent time in the USA, London, and Singapore. During this time, she was fortunate to combine her passion of teaching with her lifelong love and passion for sport, progressing into secondary school teaching of Physical Education.

Maree has had the privilege of working with many students from all walks of life and is honored to have on many occasions not only been the teacher but the learner. Maree believes being open to seeing and being shown there is more than one way to
learn and finding what ignites that passion in a child is what makes this job special.

Maree and her family now call Lincoln home and are always looking for that next exciting adventure that life brings.

Email Maree via maree.cronin@ararira.school.nz

Meeghan comes to Ararira Springs from Lincoln Primary School and prior to that West Riding Primary in Cape Town, South Africa. She has many years of teaching experience across different age groups in South Africa as well as in the United Kingdom. She relocated to Christchurch in 2018 and lives in Lincoln with her family.

Meeghan is passionate about teaching and learning and creating a positive learning environment.  She encourages her learners to get involved, ask questions and always do their best.

 Meeghan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors and exploring New Zealand whenever possible. You can contact Meeghan via meeghan.coetzee@ararira.school.nz 

Megan came to Ararira Springs from Halswell School and prior to that, Lincoln Primary. She has had lots of experience teaching in collaborative environments and enjoys working with children of all ages.

Megan is passionate about her learners and they are at the centre of everything she does. She makes it a priority to build relationships with all learners, finding out who they are, where they come from and what makes them unique. She recognises the importance of positive home-school partnerships and is committed to collaborating with parents and whānau to help each child reach their full potential. Megan particularly enjoys teaching mathematics, literacy and the arts. She loves learning new things and sees herself as a lifelong learner.

Megan grew up in Christchurch and enjoys spending time with her dogs, going for walks, gardening and reading.

You can contact Megan via megan.newton@ararira.school.nz

Megan is excited to be starting a new teaching adventure at Ararira Springs. With over 15 years of teaching experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom. Megan has come to Ararira Springs from Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School where she taught in both the Year 4-6 and Year 3-4 collaborative teams. Prior to that, she taught at a country school in Hororata.  

Megan’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning. She enjoys hands-on discovery learning that reflects real-life experiences and fosters the development of curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. Megan’s commitment to developing and maintaining strong relationships with students and whānau ensures she knows her learners a it nd understands their needs.

Megan grew up just down the road in Greenpark on a dairy farm, spending her time riding horses and helping on the farm. She moved back to the local area a few years ago and is lucky enough to have a big garden where she can indulge her love of the outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew, catching up with friends, reading, riding and recycling. 

You can contact Megan via megan.stewart@ararira.school.nz

Having completed his first year of teaching back in his hometown of Masterton, Michael is excited to move back to Christchurch to be reunited with his wife, and get actively involved in the Lincoln community. His first year of experience at Lakeview School has only increased his passion for teaching and he is excited to join our school and continue to support akonga in a centred approach to teaching and learning.

He has a strong passion for building positive relationships with akonga, kaiako and whanau and strives to give the akonga a safe positive learning environment, where every child feels valued and they can explore their cultural identities.

He is an enthusiastic teacher who enjoys getting competitive when it comes to sporting activities and the students love when teachers take a step out of the teaching role and engage on their level both inside and outside the classroom. Michael has developed his knowledge of the Maori language and culture, so that he can better provide akonga with a learning environment that embraces te reo Māori. 

Michael grew up in Masterton and enjoyed playing various sports including football, softball, and basketball. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym and playing sports. 

You can contact Michael via michael.mcdermott@ararira.school.nz

Born and raised in Blenheim, Pamela moved to Christchurch in 2007 where she studied for a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning at the University of Canterbury. Pamela started teaching in Wellington and from there moved home to Christchurch teaching at Avondale and Papanui Primary Schools. 

Pamela loves the challenge that teaching and learning present each day, getting to know ākonga and their whānau and designing memorable opportunities through which tamariki can experience joy and success in learning. She has a keen interest in digital technologies and the authentic and purposeful use of digital platforms for enhancing learning opportunities.

Pamela lives in Rolleston with her husband Craig and their 3 year old daughter Genevieve. They love to be out and about at the beach in the summer and the mountains in the winter. They are a pipe band family. Pamela began playing the bagpipes 23 years ago, most of that time playing with the Canterbury Caledonian Society. Currently, on hiatus from playing while raising Genevieve, they can still be found following the bands and supporting her husband who plays in the drum corp.

Get in touch with Pamela via pamela.marshall@ararira.school.nz

Sam returned to Christchurch from Auckland where she had been teaching at Pukekohe Intermediate in South Auckland for three years, teaching in an innovative learning environment. She has been learning more about tikanga Māori and how to speak te reo Māori.

Sam is passionate about integrating technology into the classroom to motivate and engage all learners. She has experience in helping students to explore all areas of the curriculum and to discover their interests and passions. Sam enjoys teaching drama and has had an active role in all aspects of full school productions.

Sam grew up in Timaru with her family, who have since relocated to Christchurch. Sam has a love of reading, enjoys playing tennis and can often be found skiing with friends and family during winter.

You can contact Sam via sam.isaacs@ararira.school.nz

Sarah is a beginning teacher who joins our Ararira Springs community all the way from Canada! 

Graduating from the University of Saskatchewan’s SUNTEP program, Sarah majored in Canadian Indigenous Studies and minored in English Language Arts. As a Métis educator she loves to bring Indigenous knowledge into the classroom. She hopes to learn and embrace New Zealand’s Māori language and culture right alongside her students and share her own culture in the process. Sarah values play based and land based learning in the classroom and seeks to create a welcoming space for all her students. 

Sarah lives in Christchurch and enjoys exploring the South Island on the weekends. She participates in Christchurch’s spoken word poetry community and aims to bring her passion for storytelling into the classroom. When not performing poetry, she can be found at the Art Centre singing with the Voices Co choir, or baking up a storm in the kitchen at home. 

Sarah looks forward to a fulfilling and insightful year here at Ararira starting in 2025!  

You can contact Sarah via sarah.szell@ararira.school.nz

You can contact Shelley via shelley.smith@ararira.school.nz

Kim is a dedicated and experienced educator with many years of teaching across a range of levels. She has also worked as an enrichment teacher and has supported pre-service teachers in their training, helping to shape the next generation of educators. Kim is passionate about fostering a love of learning in her students through engaging, meaningful, and innovative educational experiences.

Kim values building strong relationships with students, encouraging them to take risks, think creatively, and strive for excellence. She believes in the power of personalised learning and is committed to helping each child reach their full potential.

She and her husband have two children who attend Lincoln High School. Outside of school, Kim enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. She loves exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand and often seeks out new adventures in the great outdoors.

Kim is proud to be part of the local community and brings her energy and passion to everything she does, both in and out of the classroom

You can contact Kim via kim.wilson@ararira.school.nz