We have an amazing team here at Russell Street school who are 100% committed to making every learner reach their potential! Meet them all below.
Teaching Staff
| Nicole
B.Ed / Dip.Teaching Kia ora e te whānau My name is Nicole. I have been privileged to have been teaching our youngest tamariki in the New Entrant space at Russell Street School for the past 11 years. I teach collaboratively in our Waka Huia whānau, working alongside Carolyn and Bianca. Focussing on the vast needs, passions and interests of our akonga and strengthening their hauora (well-being), as they transition and settle into school life, is a priority. Ngā Uaratanga – our school values – sit within all our teaching and learning and are especially strengthened and celebrated in our cross-curricular play based learning time. We provide many opportunities for our akonga to be flexible in their thinking, show curiosity and creativity and problem solve. Supporting our akonga to learn to communicate appropriately, develop confidence and learn to be a co-operative, kind and empathetic friend is a big social focus in our space. Above all, it is about encouraging and teaching our akonga to do their best learning in a place that is happy and joyful for them to be. I love the energy and passion they bring to their learning and they never cease to amaze me with their wonderful insights! Alongside being in the classroom, I am also the transition to school coordinator for our five year olds and am part of our Pūmanawa leadership team. |
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| Kelly
Is one of our new entrant teachers who is based in Room 2. |
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| Carolyn
Dip.Tchg (Primary); B.Ed Kia ora, I am Carolyn. I have been fortunate to be a part of this wonderful community since 2008. This year I will open our second new entrant class, in Waka Huia. Journeying with the five-year-olds and their families as they begin their schooling is a joy and a privilege. I also have the opportunity to spend time with many other students at RSS, as I relieve in the school and lead an annual art extension project while I wait for my class to open. One of my favourite parts of school life is our buddy-class system; the children here really look out for one another. My teaching passions are the arts and literacy and I am currently immersing myself in researching the benefits of play-based learning. Learning is lifelong, after all. I look forward to meeting you! |
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| Lucy
B.A. / GradDipTchg(ECE) / MTchgLn(Primary) Tēnā koutou e te whānau, I’m Lucy. I spent my primary school years at this amazing kura and feel so lucky to be here as a kaiako (teacher). I started my career in Early Childhood Education where I developed a love of building relationships with all tamariki and their whānau. I’m also passionate about Te Ao Māori, building a positive class culture, pursuing children’s interests, our beautiful RSS values, and having fun while we learn! This year I am teaching in Rarotonga! Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia o tātou mahi – Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work. |
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| Lori
Lori is in Room 4 teaching Year 1 & 2. |
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| Tori
Tori is currently on maternity leave. |
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| Anja
Anja is in Room 8 teaching Year 3 & 4.
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| Matt
B.Mlsc / MTchgLn(Primary)
Kia Ora, I am Matt Budd and I feel extremely privileged to be teaching in Room 5 or Ruru. I have experience at Year 5/6 as well as 4 years experience at Year 7&8 and I am excited to be able to take the ākonga in Ruru on a learning journey to develop their panekiretanga and reach their full potential. I am keen to help them discover their passions and find out more about who they are as people and how they can help develop a wonderful culture of learning in our kura. I have a background in science and have 14 years of experience working in a medical laboratory so I am very passionate about teaching science and inspiring a new generation of forward thinkers, which in our current climate is proving to be crucial. I believe that teaching students to be curious about the world they live in enables them to become critical thinkers who seek out innovation in their own lives. Through fostering strong positive relationships with students I strive to build their confidence in their own abilities and see that they can achieve greatness. My door is always open so feel free to come and see me and have a chat.
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Robin
B.A. / Dip.Tchg Kia ora, I’m Robin Baker and I teach with Sandi Baldwin in a longstanding job share position. My three adult children attended the school too and I have a strong connection with the community. My passion is teaching and supporting children to become self-improving, confident readers and writers because literacy is such a vital life skill and opens the door to many other aspects of learning. My other desire is for children to reach their potential as they discover their own interests and passions which enable them to contribute to their own communities. I love to read, exercise, garden and quilt in my spare time. This year my personal learning challenge is to improve my swimming skills. |
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Sandi
B.A. / Dip.Tchg I teach Year 2-4, job sharing with Robin Baker in Room 7. I also teach English as a Second Language. I am a mother of three children and grandmother of three. My children all went to Russell Street School. I like to cycle, walk, read and I am learning Te Reo at Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Having taught at this school for 22 years I have seen many changes including the introduction of ICT, agency and the emphasis on how to learn, rather than just acquiring knowledge. I believe every child is gifted in some way and my aim is to develop self confidence in my students. |
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Brenda B.Ed. / ACET Kia Ora, I’m Brenda and this year I am teaching Tīrama Whetū in Room 8. I have always loved teaching and since becoming a mum, I have a new appreciation of how special our jobs are as teachers. I am passionate about students being curious about their world. I enjoy helping students to develop their self-belief and wairua. With this confidence to take risks, students are able to give new learning a go. He iti te hau marangai, E tū te Pāhokahoka. Just like a rainbow after the storm, success follows failure. |
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Samantha B Ed / Dip. Education Studies Kia ora, I am Samantha Leighton and this year I’m teaching year 4-5 children in Tautoru (room 9). This is my 7th year that I have been part of the Russell Street School whānau. I have been teaching since 2012 and am passionate about making a difference in children’s learning. I love learning alongside the tamariki, whānau and kaiako. I am passionate about creating strong relationships with tamariki and supporting them to find those ‘aha’ moments in their learning journey. |
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| Trent
Dip. Tchg Kia ora koutou, I’m Trent and I teach in Rākaunui (Room 10) alongside our Year 5/6 learners. I am passionate about creating strong relationships with our ākonga and their whānau, which will help build confidence and a sense of belonging in our space. I am also passionate about fostering an environment where they have the agency and independence to explore their passions and spark their interest in learning in fun and engaging ways. I absolutely love the Russell Street School community and look forward to continuing to work alongside everyone. As always, feel free to drop into Rākaunui anytime for a kōrero and see our learning. |
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Eileen
B.Ed.
Ko Mangere te maunga,
Ko Manukau te awa,
Ko ‘Boeing 747’ te waka rererangi,
Ko Tan te whānau,
Ko Fulian tōku tipuna,
Ko Ping raua ko Yary ōku mātua,
Ko Michael taku tāne,
Ko Benjamin rātou ko Isabelle, ko Lucas aku tamariki,
Ko Eileen taku ignoa.
I am currently on maternity leave. I joined the Russell Street whānau in 2015 and upon my very first interaction at the school, I knew this was a place I would come to love. I have a passion for Te Ao Māori and also about encouraging the children to explore and appreciate the diversity of culture we are surrounded by. Throughout my teaching career, starting in 2007, one of my favourite parts of ‘the job’ is that I get the opportunity to get to know these precious tamariki and guide them into fulfilling their potential – not only in their learning but also in their social and emotional lives as well.
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Paige BA Media Studies, Political Science, Japanese | Grad Dip. Teaching Ko Hikurangi te Maunga, Ko Waiapū te Awa, Ko Nukutaimemeha te Waka, Ko Te Whānau a Rakairoa te hapū, Ko Ngāti Porou te Iwi, Ko Paige taku ingoa. 皆さん、始めまして、私の名前はページです。私はいつも先生になりたいと思っていました。私の好きな科目は数学です。どうぞよろしく！ Kia ora Whānau mā! My name is Paige and I am lucky enough to have joined RSS and the Poutokomanawa whānau, teaching year 1-6 collaboratively alongside Ebony, Eileen and my #1 Mum, Rosie. In our whānau team, it quite literally takes a village to raise a child and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Māori language, culture and students are at the heart of my teaching practice. I would like to be a teacher like my grandmother was, kind with high expectations, always striving for everyone to achieve, pushing and supporting them to do their best but with a special passion for Māori achievement and culture. My personal teaching philosophy both begins and ends with whānau, it is the foundation of Māori society and can be strengthened by building relationships within our class, their whānau, the wider school, and the community. I am also passionate about incorporating structured literacy, digital technology, languages, the arts and contextualised play into my practice to promote critical thinking, social skills and student agency to help tamariki both realise and achieve their full potential. Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai | Nature the seed and it will bloom We all need love and care to fully realise our potential |
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Fabian Fabian works in Poutokomanawa. |
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| Lisa
Tēnā koutou! I am the Learning Support Coordinator and feel very privileged to be part of such a dedicated team of teachers and staff. The best part about my job is that I get to work alongside teachers, students and whānau from across the school in a supportive capacity. As well as ‘living my dream’ of being a teacher for the past 15 plus years, I also enjoy time with my family, friends, a large dog and a very fluffy cat. I am mum to two children, both at University. You can find me in the office area if you would like to pop in and say hi. |
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| John
B.Sc / PhD / Grad.Dip Tchg Hi, I am John Smith and this year I wear two hats, I take students for our GATE programme as well as I am the MST (Maths Specialist Teacher) working in Years 3-6. Previously, I spent 20 years with Fonterra as a scientist and manager. Prior to that I lived in Canada – first in Edmonton and then in Montreal – studying chemistry. I enjoy watching and participating in sport and try to spend time every day either running or swimming. Together with my family – my incredible wife, Philippa, and my four beautiful daughters (all ex-Russell Streeters) – I aim to one day complete all of the Great Walks in New Zealand. I love to read and have a particular interest in history and current events. Perhaps not surprisingly, I also have a passion for maths, and science and enjoy sharing these passions in the classroom. At times I even turn my hand to a little acting! Mwah ha ha ha ha. |
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| Lynne
Reading Recovery Teacher |
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| Rosie
Assistant Principal B.Tchg/Lng / Post Grad Dip. Ed (Māori Education) Ko Hikurangi te maunga, Ko Waiapu te awa, Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi, Ko Rosie taku ingoa, Tēnā koutou katoa. I have loved teaching at Russell Street School for several years and I am the Assistant Principal. I am currently teaching collaboratively in Poutokomanawa with Ebony and Eileen. I predominately teach the Year 5/6 tamariki in our space, however I get to work with a range of tamariki from Yr2 – 6 everyday. I am passionate about Te Reo Maori me ōna tikanga, Kapa Haka, RSS values, high expectations, being creative, digital learning, thinking skills and instilling self-belief in the akonga I am teaching. I place an emphasis on the essence and importance of teamwork – tuakana/teina. This promotes a culture of learning, a culture of community – where individuals contribute their strengths for the benefit of us all. He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. Nā reira, piki mai, kake mai ki te awhi, me te manaaki i ngā tamariki o ‘Poutokomanawa’. |
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| Lorna
Tumuaki Tuarua/Deputy Principal B.Ed Ko Kāhuranaki te maunga Kia ora, I am Lorna, Deputy Principal at Russell Street School. I am joining the team in 2024 after working at Ross Intermediate School for the last 15 years. Although I originally come from Hawkes Bay, I consider the Manawatū my home and have been here over 20 years. My passions include the performing arts and I contribute to both Act Three Productions and Manawatū Youth Theatre in my free time. I also am a keen netball player, reader and like to spend hours cooking in the kitchen. I absolutely love being a teacher and learning alongside ākonga, whānau and kaimahi in their schooling journey. I am looking forward to meeting you! |
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| Nick
Tumuaki/Principal M. Ed / PG Dip Ed / B.Ed / Dip. Tchg Tēnā koutou katoa. I am honoured to be the principal at Russell Street. The school has a special place in my educational career; I started teaching here 25 years ago as a beginning teacher, both my wife Lynley and I taught here together, and I returned here as DP after teaching overseas. To come back as the principal has always been an aspiration of mine and now that goal has become a reality. I am committed to and excited by the challenge that lies ahead building on the great reputation that the school continues to have. I am always interested in your thoughts on how we can make Russell St an even better place for our learners, please do not hesitate to get in touch to share your thoughts. Ngā mihi nui. |
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Support Staff
| Sharon
Office A-Team |
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| Rachelle
Office A-Team/Teaching Assistant |
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| Rebecca
Librarian B.Ed, Dip.Tchg I have the amazing job of connecting the children, staff and families here at RSS with books! With over 8000 books in the Jean Wilkinson Library Hub we are sure to have a book for everyone. Most days I can be found in the Library after school and everyone is welcome to come in and browse our collection. Come and talk to me about what you would like to read! You can also visit our library online at http://nz.accessit.online/RSSS. |
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| Chloe
Teaching Assistant
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| Helen
Teaching Assistant |
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| Hannah
Teaching Assistant & Library Assistant |
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| Whaea Metarina
Kaumatua/Cultural Advisor
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| Amber
Teaching Assistant |
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| Lisa
Teaching Assistant |
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| Nicky
Teaching Assistant |
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| Noeline
Teaching Assistant/Speech Teacher |
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| Nigel
Caretaker |
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