Our People
Our staff enjoy and celebrate our students. They are knowledgeable in their field and are committed to searching out the latest teaching techniques, strategies and resources to provide our students with the best possible opportunity to succeed.
The staff are fun to be with and creative. They are committed to meeting the individual needs of students and their families. Staff are empathetic and energetic, kind and supportive. Tauranga Special School has a team of specialists who travel to all locations to provide both advisory and hands on service. Together they form our Specialist Team.
Specialists
Speech Language Therapists
Billie Hampton Edwards (Mon to Fri) billiehe@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Rebecca Scott (Mon to Fri) rebeccas@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Kit Hardy (Wed, Thu, Fri) kith@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Kathleen Faulls (Mon, Tue, Wed) kathleenf@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Occupational Therapists
Erin Connolly (Mon to Fri) erinc@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Kate MacLean (Wed, Thu, Fri) katem@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Amy Prouse (Wed, Thu) amyp@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Physiotherapists
Karen Porter (Tue, Wed, Thu) karenp@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Megan Munro (Wed) meganm@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Specialist Teacher - Kaiārahi Hauora
Penny Gee (Mon to Thu) pennyg@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Specialist Assistants
Awhina Brown - Physiotherapy Assistant
Kim Harris - Physiotherapy Assistant
Marcia Martin - Occupational Therapy Assistant
Wider Leadership Group
Nicky Henderson (Professional Learning Leader) nickyh@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Jay Rotarangi (WSL) jayr@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Penny Gee (WSL, PLL) pennyg@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Pip Jonathan (Professional Learning Leader) pipj@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Administration
Naomi McDonald - Executive Assistant
Jillian Peck - Finance Officer
Michele Hughes - Office Administrator
Serena Stock - Resource Assistant
Our Board:
Presiding Member: Sandra Peter
Parent Representatives: Malcolm Poppe, Daisy Togo, Mike Nuku, Maria Veronese
Staff Representative: Amy Bisley
Board Secretary: Barb Turley
Classroom Teachers
Base School
- Room 1: Michael Woodnut michaelw@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Room 2: Gayna Paris gaynap@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Room 3: Charlene Irving charlenei@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Room 4: Cat Banks catb@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Studio 5: Hayley Goodger hayleyg@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Satellite Classes
Te Kuro o Manunui:
- Jay Rotarangi jayr@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Welcome Bay:
- Nicky Henderson nickyh@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Anna Dowd annad@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Tauranga Intermediate:
- Cathryn Fox cathrynf@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Sara Thorburn sarat@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Papamoa College:
- Jennifer Banks jenniferb@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Kirsty Chambers kirstyc@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- David Norman davidn@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Devonport Road Campus:
- Ilse Pretorius ilsep@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Yasumi Kobayashi yasumik@taurangaspecialschool.nz
Community College Class:
- Brendon Oates brendono@taurangaspecialschool.nz
- Margaret Briasco margaretb@taurangaspecialschool.nz
