Meet the Otautau School Board of Trustees
click on the picture to view each
trustee's bio
Sue Carran | Chairperson
Fleur Van Brecht
Nigel Manson
Dave Haywood
Dianne Davidson | Staff Rep
Ginny Cowie
Ben Witheford | Principal
Hi, I am Susan Carran and live on a sheep farm just
out of Otautau. I am married to Graeme and we have
3 children. When I last wrote this 3 years ago, our
eldest was just starting school, now Jonty, Charlie
and Libby all attend Otautau
School.
I was born, raised and schooled in Otautau, living on a farm in Aparima. After finishing high school I went to Dunedin Teachers College and completed a Bachelor of Education.
I feel privileged to once again be a trustee on the school board. Over the past three years the school has continued to improve in many aspects and with Ben’s leadership and a positive and supportive board this can only continue to go forward. It is very important to be a part of your children’s education and getting involved this way has many rewards also challenges.
It is all about giving children the best start in life through education. I bring experience and understanding of the teaching profession. Also, I share the role and concerns of a parent and knowledge of a teacher that is beneficial to the board, school and you as a parent. I am a positive and friendly person and have a very good listening ear. I love to see a school which its children enjoy learning and are community proud.
Portfolios
Chairperson / Finance / Documentation & Legislation / FoS / Disciplinary Committee Chair
I was born, raised and schooled in Otautau, living on a farm in Aparima. After finishing high school I went to Dunedin Teachers College and completed a Bachelor of Education.
I feel privileged to once again be a trustee on the school board. Over the past three years the school has continued to improve in many aspects and with Ben’s leadership and a positive and supportive board this can only continue to go forward. It is very important to be a part of your children’s education and getting involved this way has many rewards also challenges.
It is all about giving children the best start in life through education. I bring experience and understanding of the teaching profession. Also, I share the role and concerns of a parent and knowledge of a teacher that is beneficial to the board, school and you as a parent. I am a positive and friendly person and have a very good listening ear. I love to see a school which its children enjoy learning and are community proud.
Portfolios
Chairperson / Finance / Documentation & Legislation / FoS / Disciplinary Committee Chair
Hello
My name is Fleur Van Brecht and I live in the Aparima district.
I am married to Michael and we have three boys, Mitchell, Regan and Caleb all of whom go to Otautau Primary school.We live on a dairy farm and have been in the farming industry for 17 years. We started out as sharemilkers in the North Waikato in the North Island and purchased our first dairy farm in Aparima road 5 years ago. In the early years I attended Paparimu primary and went on to Papakura High School in South Auckland progressing into a career in the ANZ and ASB banks for 13 years.
Since our shift south we have been involved in various community/school groups and events of which we have experienced a great community spirit.I have been a committee member of Friends of the School for the last 4 years and was also a member for the Friends Action Group as sponsorship co-ordinator for the very successful school fundraiser “The Full Monty”. I enjoy working in a team environment and am looking forward to being part of our schools BOT.Our children's learning and development in the formative years is important to me as it “arms” them with knowledge, ability and direction to succeed throughout their schooling, careers and life.
I believe Otautau school is offering quality education for our children and have no doubt its success will continue.
Portfolios
Health & Safety / Curriculum / Disciplinary committee
My name is Fleur Van Brecht and I live in the Aparima district.
I am married to Michael and we have three boys, Mitchell, Regan and Caleb all of whom go to Otautau Primary school.We live on a dairy farm and have been in the farming industry for 17 years. We started out as sharemilkers in the North Waikato in the North Island and purchased our first dairy farm in Aparima road 5 years ago. In the early years I attended Paparimu primary and went on to Papakura High School in South Auckland progressing into a career in the ANZ and ASB banks for 13 years.
Since our shift south we have been involved in various community/school groups and events of which we have experienced a great community spirit.I have been a committee member of Friends of the School for the last 4 years and was also a member for the Friends Action Group as sponsorship co-ordinator for the very successful school fundraiser “The Full Monty”. I enjoy working in a team environment and am looking forward to being part of our schools BOT.Our children's learning and development in the formative years is important to me as it “arms” them with knowledge, ability and direction to succeed throughout their schooling, careers and life.
I believe Otautau school is offering quality education for our children and have no doubt its success will continue.
Portfolios
Health & Safety / Curriculum / Disciplinary committee
Hi
my name is Nigel Manson married to Megan, we have
three girls Hannah, Courtney & Maggie two
currently attending Otautau School.
I am a Dairy Farmer fourth generation on our family farm at Bayswater. An ex pupil of Otautau school and Central Southland College. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking and am a member of Otautau Fire Brigade.
I am a practical and approachable person looking forward to working with the new board members. It will be a challenge but feel confident that we will work well together. I am keen to see all students at our school have the best educational opportunities to succeed in life.
I am a Dairy Farmer fourth generation on our family farm at Bayswater. An ex pupil of Otautau school and Central Southland College. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking and am a member of Otautau Fire Brigade.
I am a practical and approachable person looking forward to working with the new board members. It will be a challenge but feel confident that we will work well together. I am keen to see all students at our school have the best educational opportunities to succeed in life.
My
name is Dave Haywood and I am a new representative on
the Otautau School Board of Trustees.
I live with my partner Chris Gibb and son Jake, who is in year 5 at Otautau School, at Phuttocks End, just north of Fairfax. We run a
Thoroughbred Horse Stud, in conjunction with a small sheep operation. Major interests outside work are rugby, racing and most sports.
I have lived in the area the majority of my life, going to Isla Bank Primary School, then to Southland Boys High School before completing an Ag Science degree at Lincoln College University. Prior to getting into the thoroughbred breeding industry I was a shearing contractor based here in Otautau for 12 years.
I believe the Otautau School has made significant progress over the past 3 years, thanks mostly to very positive leadership and great community support. Being new to the Board has posed a pretty steep learning curve for me, but I am confident the group that make up the board, are a very capable and positive team who will be able to maintain the momentum established by our predecessors.
Looking forward to the challenge.
Regards
Dave Haywood
I live with my partner Chris Gibb and son Jake, who is in year 5 at Otautau School, at Phuttocks End, just north of Fairfax. We run a
Thoroughbred Horse Stud, in conjunction with a small sheep operation. Major interests outside work are rugby, racing and most sports.
I have lived in the area the majority of my life, going to Isla Bank Primary School, then to Southland Boys High School before completing an Ag Science degree at Lincoln College University. Prior to getting into the thoroughbred breeding industry I was a shearing contractor based here in Otautau for 12 years.
I believe the Otautau School has made significant progress over the past 3 years, thanks mostly to very positive leadership and great community support. Being new to the Board has posed a pretty steep learning curve for me, but I am confident the group that make up the board, are a very capable and positive team who will be able to maintain the momentum established by our predecessors.
Looking forward to the challenge.
Regards
Dave Haywood
Dianne Davidson
I am the staff representative on the BOT, and bring over 25 years of teaching experience (much of this in senior management) to the position. I bring my strong knowledge of curriculum and teaching and learning for the future, to the Otautau BOT. My husband, Kenneth and I, reside on the outskirts of Otautau and very much value our rural view and lifestyle, which includes, gardening, fishing and hunting. Our daughter, Niki and her husband Andrew live in Arrowtown. Niki works for the BNZ in Queenstown and Andrew is a stonemason. The latest addition to our family has come in the form of a black Labrador puppy, who we have named Storm. Storm has livened up the life of our other dog, 9 year old Chase, a golden Labrador, who he constantly harasses.
I am the staff representative on the BOT, and bring over 25 years of teaching experience (much of this in senior management) to the position. I bring my strong knowledge of curriculum and teaching and learning for the future, to the Otautau BOT. My husband, Kenneth and I, reside on the outskirts of Otautau and very much value our rural view and lifestyle, which includes, gardening, fishing and hunting. Our daughter, Niki and her husband Andrew live in Arrowtown. Niki works for the BNZ in Queenstown and Andrew is a stonemason. The latest addition to our family has come in the form of a black Labrador puppy, who we have named Storm. Storm has livened up the life of our other dog, 9 year old Chase, a golden Labrador, who he constantly harasses.
My name is Ginny Cowie and I moved to Otautau with my husband Dave and our three children Max, Harrison and Tessa 18 months ago. We currently have Max in Year 3.
While we have only been part of the Otautau community for a short time I have been over whelmed with the community spirit and feel that the school is at the hub of this, something that I believe is an important role of the school. I am proud to have my child attend Otautau School and look forward to being part of its continuing development over the next three years.
I am an early childhood teacher, having worked as a Kindergarten teacher for many years. I understand the importance of teachers and parents working together to strive for continual improvement and progress for all children. I enjoy working as part of a team both contributing ideas and listening to others perspectives and understand the need to be open and flexible when making decisions. I look forward to the challenge ahead and to working with the other members on the Board of Trustees.