Within our Middle Leadership Team, staff have one of our two roles: Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator, responsible for a particular year group or Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader, responsible for a curriculum area.

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitators

Shirley Scott

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Year 7

I am from Liverpool in the UK but I have lived in Aotearoa for 17 Years. My most recent teaching was at Tuakau College in north Waikato, were I was the Asst SENCo and Specialist Classroom Teacher.

I love gardening, being a taxi service for my two teenage boys, cooking and feeding people (especially baking).

Having studied the work of Russell Bishop as a part of my Master of Specialist Teaching, I am looking forward to continuing my journey of cultural competency, particularly developing my Effective Teacher Profile in conjunction with the College’s vision and values.

Ko Moel Fama te māunga

Ko Mersey te awa

No Glen Murray ahau

Ko Shirley tōku ingoa

Jill Rimmer

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Year 8

Ko Maungatautari te maunga

Ko Waikato te awa

Nō Kemureti tōku whānau engari nō Kirikiriroa tōku kainga

Ko Rimmer toku whānau

Ko Jill taku ingoa

The majority of my teaching years have been spent with Year 7 and 8 students, most recently at Melville Intermediate School, where I was team leader and curriculum leader.

I believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to and fully embrace the kiwi DIY spirit. I love designing and creating all sorts of things. Most of my spare time is spent with my 14 year old daughter, working on house projects, or with family and friends.

Lianne Moore

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Year 9

Kiaora my name is Lianne Moore (MA,  MFA, post grad dip teaching)

I am excited to be the Year 9 Poutiaki Wananga and a Visual Arts Teacher at this amazing new school. 

I have been teaching for 19 years now at a wide variety of schools. In the last 10 years I have been Head of Art at Auckland Grammar and a Leader of Learning of Visual Arts at Rototuna Senior High and Kahui Ako. At present I am really interested in curriculum design, cognitive load theory and effective teaching and instructional strategies, especially teaching literacy across curriculum areas. I am reading “How Teaching Happens”, “How Learning Happens” and listening to the podcast “Progressively Incorrect” on these topics.

 I enjoy yoga, walking, movies, baking, reading and I’ve started martial arts with my husband Jatin and my 11 year old daughter. I am embracing AC/DC and 70’s rock. My theme songs at present are “Back in Black” and “Barracuda” and Batman is my favourite superhero. 

Nga Mihi

Tena koutou katoa

Ko Ngongotaha te maunga

Ko Ngongotaha te awa

Ko Ross me Mcleod te iwi

Ko Moore me Bali  toku whaanau

Ko Lianne taku ingoa

Tena koutou katoa

Simone Ishinabe

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Year 10

I have come from Melville High School where I was the Senior Photography & Visual Arts Teacher, as well as being the Y12 Dean.

I am a practising artist, so I am often creating artwork in my downtime. I moved home to Aotearoa with my husband Ryo from Tokyo in 2008 and we have three beautiful children ages 10, 7 and 2 who keep us busy.

I spent my teenage years in Canada, doing my Fine Art Degree in Toronto. In 2019, I graduated from Te Waanaga o Aotearoa with a Degree in Toi Maaori. I am really excited to be able to share my knowledge and experiences and bring the voices of our Melville learners and community to this middle leadership role.

Felicity Kaiwai

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Year 11

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Kei taku ure tārewa:

Ko Hikurangi te maunga

Ko Waiapu te awa

Ko Porourangi, ko Tu Au Au, ko Mangahānea ngā marae

Ko Horouta te waka

Ko Ngāti Rangi te hapū

Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi

Kei taku ūkaipo:

Ko Taranaki te maunga

Ko Kapuni te awa

Ko Waiokura te marae

Ko Aotea te waka

Ko Ngāti Tū te hapū

Ko Ngāruahine te iwi

Tū mai Ngāti Porou …

Ka moe a Apirana Ngata ki a Arihia Tamati ka puta ko Mate Ngata

Ka moe a Mate Ngata ki a Kaura Te Pakanga Kaiwai ka puta ko Hori Papangaro Kaiwai

Ka moe a Hori Papangaro Kaiwai ki a Huhita Ani Ranui ka puta ko au

Tū mai Taranaki …

Ka moe a Jack Daymond ki a Ngahina Manaia ka puta ko Maisie Ruinga Daymond

Ka moe a Maisie Ruinga Daymond ki a Boyde Ranui ka puta ko Huhita-Ani Ranui

Ka moe a Huhita-Ani Ranui ki a Hori Papangari Kaiwai ka puta ko au, te kōtiro pōtiki o tō mātau whānau

Kua heke mai i ōku tīpuna, he Ngāti Porou, he Ngāruahine, he Tūhoe, he Ngāti Mutunga tēnei uri whakaheke e tū ake nei.

Ko Felicity Ann Huia Kaiwai tōku ingoa.

No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!

I am of Ngati Porou, Taranaki and Tuhoe descent.  These pan-tribal links combined with the diverse connections created by my ancestors and those that have imparted these taonga tuku iho on me in my lifetime, are far reaching and diverse. Working with people from all walks of life has etched in my body, mind and soul, an incredible passion in our evolving world. They provided me with a perspective on life that highlights the importance of legacy and innovative learning that will prepare our learners for the exciting yet diverse world that lies ahead. 

I am a specialist teacher in Digital Technology and have spent the past 17 years at Te kura o Rautāwhiri (Rotorua Girls High School), Te Arawa, where some of my greatest teaching and learning has transpired. I briefly taught at Hamilton Fraser High School in 2010 where I returned back to Rotorua Girls High School. An opportunity to grow professionally and personally has brought me back to Kirikiriroa on this new, challenging and exciting journey ahead here at Mangakōtukutuku College as Poutiaki Wānanga for Years 11 & 13.

My educational philosophy is based on a belief that all students can learn and succeed and that they have a right to be at a school where they are valued for who they are, for the identity that they carry, for their potential to succeed, for whatever achievement looks like for them. Find the child’s pūmanawa, and if you can’t quite master that, then look beyond. It should be an obligation of yours, of mine, of ours, that every child feels a sense of belonging, and that we provide the utmost safe and caring environment to ensure their pathway to learning happens with ease, that they wake up and look forward to setting off to school and that the environment reflects Cultural relationships for Responsive pedagogy and is infused with Future Focused Learning.  As a school, I believe we must provide our students with the opportunities to be the best that they can be.  We must be passionate about learning, excited by discovery and undaunted by change. Education is the most powerful weapon to ensure the seed has a solid steady foundation to blossom, to make a difference and not to change the world, but to best prepare us for the world.

Ashleigh Martin

Poutiaki Wānanga - Learning Facilitator - Years 12 and 13

Ko Hikurangi me Bartle Frere ngā maunga

Ko Babinda Boulders te awau

Ko Wainui te moana

He uri ahau Australia engari, ko Tūranganui-a-kiwa te whenua o taku ngakau

Ko Martin tōku whānau

Ko Ashleigh tōku ignoa

My name is Ashleigh Martin and I am lucky enough to be a Poutiaki Wānanga and an English teacher at Mangakōtukutuku College. Before arriving in the Waikato, I was teaching at Albany Senior High School, where I was a Community Leader and the Associate Specialist Subject Leader for English. In my spare time, you can find me on a squash court, at a concert, or exploring walking tracks with my partner, Pete, and our dog, Bella. 

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leaders

Justine Macnamara

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - The Arts

Previously, I have come from Melville High School where I was Leader of Curriculum-Arts and a Visual Arts teacher. I have a wealth of experience, teaching in Aotearoa and overseas.

Camping with my whaanau and friends is what I love doing best. Making art, reading and travelling are also things I enjoy.

I feel privileged and excited to be helping shape a school that best fits our community and empowers our students to be strong and smart.

Ko Takitimu te maunga

Ko Waihopai te awa

Ko Irish te iwi

Ko Macnamara toku whaanau

Ko Justine toku ingoa

Jacek Krzyzosiak

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - Science

I am originally from Poland, landed in Aotearora in 1989, lived in Auckland for a year then we moved to eastern Waikato and Hamilton, I have worked as a Scientist at AgResearch and LIC before moving to teaching in 2006, moved to Auckland in 2007 to teach at Onehunga High School. I am married and have one adult child in NZ, my father and 2 siblings live in Poland. I like to spend spare time reading and being outdoors tramping, walking, cycling, swimming and sailing. The highlight of last year was a sailing boat delivery trip from Fiji to Auckland. I am looking forward to learning some basic Te Reo this year and engaging with my new school community. Science gives me a rationalist outlook on the world.  

Monika Bali

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - English

Kia ora tātou

Ko Pirongia te māunga

Ko Waikato te awa

Nō Kirikiroroa ahau

Ko Bali toku whanau

Ko Monika tōku ingoa

My name is Monika Bali and I am honoured to lead the Reo Pākehā/English Learning Area at Mangakōtukutuku College. I recently left Hamilton Girls' High School, where I was the Year 9 Dean and Assistant Head of the English Department, to return home to Melville. As an ex-student of both Melville Intermediate and Melville High School, I am excited about this new journey that our community is going through and I jumped at the chance to be a part of it! In my spare time I enjoy reading, watching films, drinking coffee and spending time with my best friend. 

Shontelle Woodman

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - Health & PE

Kia e te Whanau, my name is Shontelle Woodman but everyone calls me Shonny. I am lucky enough to be the Poutiaki Ako for the physical education and health area of our kura. I was recently teaching at Melville High School for the last 7 years where I was a year level dean, I taught P.E. and Health, as well as yr 9-11 mathematics. I have a 10 year old daughter who attends Koromatua school, and is also passionate about sports. In my spare time, I like to read, listen to different types of music, and also watch a lot of movies. I am currently studying my masters in education, and am really looking forward to implementing what I have learnt into the classroom.

Ko Taumatamahoe te maunga 

Ko Te oneroa a tōhe te moana 

Ko Tāngonge te awa 

Ko Tinana te waka

Ko te Rarawa te iwi

Ko Ngati te ao te hapu

Ko te Uri o Hina marae te marae

Ko Shontelle Woodman tōku ingoa

Pachappa Goundar

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - Technology

Tēnā koutou katoa and Bula!

My name is Pachappa Goundar and I have joined Mangakōtukutuku College in the capacity as a Poutiaki Ako (Learning Area Leader) of Technology. 

I am originally from Labasa, Fiji Island and migrated with my family to New Zealand in 2004. In Fiji, I have taught at Labasa Sangam (SKM) College and Natabua High School. While here in New Zealand, I have taught at Paeroa College, Melville High School, Rototuna Senior High School and Ngaruawahia High School.

Teaching in a range of schools has equipped me with lots of skills and knowledge. I bring with me the concept of Whanaungatanga and Ako and I am looking forward to growing these concepts along with our Kura’s values in my Teaching practice here at Mangakōtukutuku College.

In my spare time, I love playing golf and going fishing. I am also leading the Waikato Graphics and Technology Teachers Association where we plan and bring the much needed Professional Development for all technology teachers here in the Waikato region. 

I am looking forward to working with all of the Mangakōtukutuku College community.

Ngaa Mahi Nui! 

Giordana Santosuosso

Poutiaki Ako - Learning Area Leader - Languages

I am a French native speaker from Switzerland of Italian descent and I grew up in a bi-cuktural environment. I was born in Geneva,  Lake Geneva and the surrounding Alps are an important part of my life. I am a teacher of French and Spanish. I have taught in various settings and schools, my last teaching post was at Howick College in Auckland. I came late to teaching, working in a bank and in administration in Switzerland. My friends will tell you how much I am passionate about languages, anything about languages. I spent about two years in the Solomon Islands working on the Lau language. This work is ongoing and when I have time, I go to Malaita Island to collect data and write children's books. I love coffee, making things with my hands, cinema, reading and walking. I love spending time with my two adults children. I am looking forward to sharing my love for languages, connecting with the community and learning te reo Maōri.