Meet the Otautau School Team
click on the picture to view further
details
To email
a staff member use their first name and then
@otautau.school.nz, for example to email Ben it would be,
ben@otautau.school.nz
Ben Witheford Principal
Dianne Davidson DP, Year 6, 7 & 8
Benardette Crawford AP, Year 3, 4 & 5
Raewyn Minty Learning Support
Colleen Duncan Teacher Aide
Maureen Johnstone Caretaker
Kerry Poulsen New Entrants
Liz Gill (on maternity leave)
Jill Hodgson Year 6, 7 & 8
Julie Guttery - Office Administrator
Donelda Dempster - Teacher Aide
Amy King - Year 1 & 2 (on maternity leave)
Fiona Flack - Year 3, 4 & 5
Jane O'Neill Brown -Year 1 & 2
Helen Cook - Teacher Aide
As I write this I have had
the privilege of leading Otautau School
for 3.5 years. I believe we have a learning
organisation that is made up of people who are
committed and passionate to the best for the
children they are charged with growing. When I'm
not at work I love spending time with my family (my
wife Sharon, 2 children Hannah and Caleb).
Relaxing is reading, following sport and
spending time on 'emdart'. My 18 foot trailer
sailer, named after her place of purchase, 'Trade
Me'
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.
Although
I live at Lorneville on the outskirts of
Invercargill, for nearly 15 years I have travelled
daily to work as Assistant Principal at Otautau
School. During that time I have worked in the Junior
School, mainly with New Entrants but currently with
Year 3 and 4 children. I’m married to Peter and
have two teenage sons Scott and Tom. For the last 21
years, we have fostered an intellectually disabled
foster son Brent, so working with children who have
special needs or learning needs is a cause dear to my
heart. I also have a love of Reading and Writing and
helping children succeed in these areas is really
important to me.
Time away from school work sees me spending time with my family, gardening, craft work and following the fortunes of the Highlanders, Southland Stags and Southern Sting/Steel from the sidelines.
Time away from school work sees me spending time with my family, gardening, craft work and following the fortunes of the Highlanders, Southland Stags and Southern Sting/Steel from the sidelines.
Kia
Ora
My name is Raewyn Minty and I am married to Alan and have two boys Stuart and Douglas. We live at Wairio and I enjoy the country lifestyle with a view of the Takitimu Mountains. I am involved in several Community Organizations and Clubs. I enjoy coaching swimming and coach for the Waiau Club and the Ohai Club.
I have been involved in Scouting for many years and run the Takitimu Cub Pack in Nightcaps. My interests include gardening, reading, antiques, nutrition and swimming.
After graduating from Dunedin Teachers College I spent several years teaching before heading overseas, teaching in London and travelling throughout Europe.
I spent three years teaching in Papua New Guinea on a Mission Station. After returning to New Zealand I taught at Otautau Primary.
In 1990 I left to bring up my family and later on returned to Part Time Teaching at schools around Western Southland. I trained as a Reading recovery Teacher and was based at Hauroko Primary. Approximately seven years ago I returned to Otautau covering the Reading Recovery Release Position teaching the afternoon programme in the year 2 class and more recently year 3 area. My position now is Literacy and Learning Support Teacher, Year One Tutor Teacher, and Year One Release.
I have always looked on teaching as a Vocation and my hope is to make a positive difference in the lives of the children that I am privileged to come in contact with. I enjoy teaching and I am challenged each day to make changes and think of ways to make shifts in the children's learning to enable each child to make progress.
My name is Raewyn Minty and I am married to Alan and have two boys Stuart and Douglas. We live at Wairio and I enjoy the country lifestyle with a view of the Takitimu Mountains. I am involved in several Community Organizations and Clubs. I enjoy coaching swimming and coach for the Waiau Club and the Ohai Club.
I have been involved in Scouting for many years and run the Takitimu Cub Pack in Nightcaps. My interests include gardening, reading, antiques, nutrition and swimming.
After graduating from Dunedin Teachers College I spent several years teaching before heading overseas, teaching in London and travelling throughout Europe.
I spent three years teaching in Papua New Guinea on a Mission Station. After returning to New Zealand I taught at Otautau Primary.
In 1990 I left to bring up my family and later on returned to Part Time Teaching at schools around Western Southland. I trained as a Reading recovery Teacher and was based at Hauroko Primary. Approximately seven years ago I returned to Otautau covering the Reading Recovery Release Position teaching the afternoon programme in the year 2 class and more recently year 3 area. My position now is Literacy and Learning Support Teacher, Year One Tutor Teacher, and Year One Release.
I have always looked on teaching as a Vocation and my hope is to make a positive difference in the lives of the children that I am privileged to come in contact with. I enjoy teaching and I am challenged each day to make changes and think of ways to make shifts in the children's learning to enable each child to make progress.
Hi
my name is Kerry Poulsen and I am married to Bruce
(who supports and encourages my wacky ideas) and our
beautiful dog Keely, who is an integral part of our
family.
I am involved with Special Olympics, as this is a pertinent issue in my family and my reasoning for entering the teaching profession. I find my job rewarding as it is a forever changing, unpredictable and challenging.
I have a passion for ICT and incorporate ICT into my class programmes whenever possible. I am responsible for establishing PALs, Physical Activity Leaders) and I am enjoying seeing the children being motivated, initiating and participating in making decisions for physical activity being apart of the Otautau School culture.
I am involved with Special Olympics, as this is a pertinent issue in my family and my reasoning for entering the teaching profession. I find my job rewarding as it is a forever changing, unpredictable and challenging.
I have a passion for ICT and incorporate ICT into my class programmes whenever possible. I am responsible for establishing PALs, Physical Activity Leaders) and I am enjoying seeing the children being motivated, initiating and participating in making decisions for physical activity being apart of the Otautau School culture.
I
began teaching because I love working with children
and helping them to reach their potential. My
greatest joy as a teacher is to see children learn
something new and the looks on their face makes the
whole job worthwhile. Teaching is not just about
teaching the curriculum, it is about teaching
students about who they are, how they fit into
society and how to be proud of themselves and their
achievements. I am passionate about learning myself
and if I can help children to succeed in what they
set out to achieve then that's what teaching is all
about.
Depending on when you read this (before or after the 26th April) I will be either planning for my marriage to Greg Gill or will be a newlywed! We live on our sheep and beef farm in the Lora Gorge which is 20 minutes east of Winton which we recently purchased from Greg's parents.
I came from a dairying background in the Coromandel in the North Island which brought me down to Southland with my parents 7 years ago. I roll my R's occasionally, I support the Southern Steel (Sting) and the Stags so I count myself to be a Southlander now!!!
Depending on when you read this (before or after the 26th April) I will be either planning for my marriage to Greg Gill or will be a newlywed! We live on our sheep and beef farm in the Lora Gorge which is 20 minutes east of Winton which we recently purchased from Greg's parents.
I came from a dairying background in the Coromandel in the North Island which brought me down to Southland with my parents 7 years ago. I roll my R's occasionally, I support the Southern Steel (Sting) and the Stags so I count myself to be a Southlander now!!!
Jill
Hodgson (Nee Davidson)
I am excited to join the team at Otautau for the 2nd time! The first time it was as a pupil and now almost 40 years on I'm back as a teacher.
Why has my journey brought me back to my roots, well, partly it's family. partly is curiosity but mostly it was the opportunity to work with the established team and lead the literacy focus in the school.
I believe that while education is vital for all, it needs to have that ... I remember when factor, that WOW that was great or Oh, so that's how or why that happens. Also I enjoy learning, facing new challenges and being part of someone's journey, i.e. the children's.
Out of school I spend my time gardening (it's in the genes), being in the outdoors tramping, involved with netball and supporting my family in their varied interests.
Husband Dave aka Homer, Son Kelvin aka Bart, daughters Alyssa aka Lisa and Meg aka Maggie. Get the picture!!!
I am excited to join the team at Otautau for the 2nd time! The first time it was as a pupil and now almost 40 years on I'm back as a teacher.
Why has my journey brought me back to my roots, well, partly it's family. partly is curiosity but mostly it was the opportunity to work with the established team and lead the literacy focus in the school.
I believe that while education is vital for all, it needs to have that ... I remember when factor, that WOW that was great or Oh, so that's how or why that happens. Also I enjoy learning, facing new challenges and being part of someone's journey, i.e. the children's.
Out of school I spend my time gardening (it's in the genes), being in the outdoors tramping, involved with netball and supporting my family in their varied interests.
Husband Dave aka Homer, Son Kelvin aka Bart, daughters Alyssa aka Lisa and Meg aka Maggie. Get the picture!!!
Kia
Ora, my name is Amy King and I am the teacher of the
wonderful year 1-2 children in Room 8. I live in
Dipton with my partner and our 6 dogs (my babies), 5
of which help out with Ryan’s pig hunting,
leaving one for me to baby J (Chan).
I graduated from Teachers college in 2005 and spent 2 and a half years relieving before getting a position at Fernworth Primary School in a year 1-2 classroom. After just over a year at Fernworth, I feel very privileged to be a part of Otautau School.
I have many interests including teaching, drawing/painting, reading, walking my dogs, and catching up with family and friends in Invercargill, most weekends. I also love setting myself goals and working towards these. I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of Otautau school and thankyou to all who have welcomed me so warmly.
I graduated from Teachers college in 2005 and spent 2 and a half years relieving before getting a position at Fernworth Primary School in a year 1-2 classroom. After just over a year at Fernworth, I feel very privileged to be a part of Otautau School.
I have many interests including teaching, drawing/painting, reading, walking my dogs, and catching up with family and friends in Invercargill, most weekends. I also love setting myself goals and working towards these. I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of Otautau school and thankyou to all who have welcomed me so warmly.