2019 Common Election results

Jasmine Phoebe Hardy Mills
Elected

A local school should be representative of the community in which it sits and a school’s Board of Trustees should be made up of voices from that community.

I think as parents it is our responsibility to put our hand up when it comes to our children’s education. There are lots of ways to do this; volunteering for reading programmes, covering books, helping out on trips and joining the PTA just to name a few. For me, it’s the Board of Trustees.

I am a current board member and am seeking re-election. I have 18 years experience in the education sector. I was a classroom teacher for 7 years and have been working in the industry consistently since. I currently run a company that optimises workplace learning in government and corporate settings. I have a Post Graduate Diploma in School Management that has given me a clear understanding of the role the Board of Trustees plays in school governance.

I want to help our school and our children however I can. Feel free to stop me for a chat over the next few weeks if you want to know more. I am also on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

@JHardyMills

Keith Poore
Elected

I would like to be a trustee of Plimmerton School because my four girls have had such a great start there and it is a privilege to give something back. I am a current Board member and was a previous Mana Montessori Treasurer and youth mentor for Project K in Porirua. I am a good listener, open minded and passionate. Like many mothers, my wife Mandy has been actively engaged in the school for many years so together with our kids’ daily updates, I have a rich perspective on school life.

Aaron Sherriff
Elected

Kia ora koutou! I am seeking re-election for a second term on the Board of Trustees. I come to the Board with a background of community volunteering, a desire to contribute to the governance of this hub of our great community, and an objective mindset as a lawyer with 18 years' experience. During the past three years as a Board member, I have been challenged, I have learned, and I have made a positive (and proactive) contribution. I am proud of the Board's work over that time. Those years have gone quickly though, and I have more to give. Thank you for your consideration. Nga mihi, Aaron.

My name is Melanie Swallow. My husband Paul and I have lived in Plimmerton for the past 18 years. We have three children, Zoe, Annabell and Isaac. Our daughters attended Plimmerton School and are now at college, and Isaac is in the senior syndicate.

It has been a privilege to serve on the Board for the past three years, with the past nine months as Chairperson. This was a step out of my comfort zone, but I have had the support of both a highly skilled board and a strong educational leader in our Principal.

I am proud of our school’s achievements over the past three years. As a Board we have seen an improvement in various areas including our students’ educational success as a result of investment in new teaching and learning initiatives. The maths professional development has resulted in increased collaboration between teachers and between students.

I would love to help continue this momentum supporting the goals of our proposed school charter – improving student well-being, curriculum development and continued leadership and staff development. These plans all contribute to our ultimate goal of providing every single child with the highest standard of education. . My professional experience is predominantly in human resources, which has included recruitment, change management, policy and employment relations. I have worked in both the public and private sector and I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology). I am currently a member of Human Resource Institute of New Zealand.

I love living in Plimmerton with its local history, the ocean right at our doorstep and the strong sense of community. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking, walking, tennis, gardening and spending quality time with family.  

Aleida van Son
Elected

My name is Aleida van Son, and I am standing for the Plimmerton School Board of Trustees as a Parent Representative.

My partner Daniel and I have 3 daughters attending Plimmerton School spanning Taupo to Mana syndicates.

I have been actively involved in the Plimmerton community for many years, firstly at Plimmerton Kindy, where I was on the Kindy Committee for close to 6 years, and more recently at Plimmerton School, where I am currently employed as a Teacher Aide providing general learning support across all syndicates.

I love my role as a Teacher Aide, I've been lucky enough to have developed some fantastic relationships with the students, and also their families. I also get to experience the real challenges that our Teachers and Students face in this modern education system, and it is nothing but adoration I have for our Teachers at Plimmerton School who truly do an amazing job.

I have also been a member of the School PTA since 2014 helping where I can with many of the Schools major fundraising efforts.

Due to my involvement across the school I have worked with a variety of parents and staff, and I am often recognized as being approachable, committed, and I reliable member of the team.

I, myself, was a pupil of Plimmerton School from 1991-1992, and fondly remember it as my favourite school... and that feeling has never changed. I am immensely proud to be a part of Plimmerton School, and relish to opportunity to give more back to the School I love, I want to contribute actively to the Schools ongoing success, and be involved in continuing its legacy, imprinting the same pride for our School onto our Children.

Thank you.