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Hamilton School Principal Re-Elected
Media Release September 27
From NZEI Te Riu Roa
For Immediate Use
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Hamilton School Principal Re-Elected
Hamilton primary school principal, Irene Cooper, has been re-elected National President of the country’s largest education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa.
She was re elected on the final day of the union’s Annual Meeting in Wellington which was attended by 400 members.
The union has 45,000 members working in every education sector. They are teachers and principals in primary schools, early childhood teachers, support staff and special education staff in primary and secondary schools, plus early childhood education services, and school advisers and lecturers in education faculties at universities and Colleges of Education.
Irene Cooper was first elected National President 12 months ago at last year’s Annual Meeting. She is on leave during her presidency from her job as principal of Hillcrest Normal School in Hamilton.
She qualified as a primary teacher in England and began her teaching career in New Zealand in 1972. She spent several years as a full time reliever before getting her first permanent teaching job at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Ara Rima in Hamilton. She was appointed deputy principal at Gordonton School near Hamilton in 1991 and then Assistant Principal at Knighton Normal School, in Hamilton, in 1994. She became principal at Hillcrest Normal School in 1996.
Irene Cooper has a Masters of Education Leadership with honours, a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching.
“It’s an honour to be elected to lead the country’s largest education union, as I know that every member is committed to providing quality education for the country’s children,” says Irene Cooper.
“I am proud to be a teacher. I’m proud to be union. And I’m proud to stand with all the members of NZEI in building a quality public education system in New Zealand.”
Frances Nelson, principal at Fairburn School, in Otahuhu in Auckland, has been elected National Vice President. Frances has been a member of NZEI’s National Executive for nine years.
Three members were elected onto the union’s
National Executive for the first time.
- Vicky Carr, a
relieving teacher from Auckland.
- Frances Guy, a deputy
principal at Kaurilands School, Te Atatu, Auckland
-
Donna Mason, a school secretary from Sunset Primary School,
Rotorua.
The following members were re-elected to NZEI’s
National Executive.
- Nigel Wilson, the principal of
Kaikorai Primary School, Dunedin.
- Sandi Abel, the
principal of Rapaura School, Blenhem.
- Louise Green, the
principal of Stanley Avenue School, Te Aroha, Waikato.
-
Diane Lawrence, the head teacher at Ascot Kindergarten,
Porirua, Wellington.
- Judith Nowotarski, the head
teacher, Hawera Kindergarten, Taranaki.
- Ian Leckie,
the principal, Tahatai Coast School, Mount Maunganui, Bay of
Plenty.
- Diane Leggett, the principal of Karori Normal
School, Wellington.
- Winnifred Morris, a special
education adviser, Palmerston North.
- Chris
Eccersall-Panther, a teacher at Somerfield School,
Christchurch
- Jonathan Ramsay, a teacher at Mt Eden
Normal School, Christchurch.
- Megan Rich, a teacher, at
St Albans School, Christchurch.
- Karl Vasau, an
assistant principal at St Josephs School, Grey Lynn,
Auckland
- Hayley Whitaker, an early childhood education
advisor, based in Napier
- Mereana Epi Mana, a librarian
at Ellerslie School, Auckland.
- Annette Patterson, a
special needs teacher aide at Catlins Area School, Owaka,
South Otago.
- Te Aroha Hiko, a special education
adviser, based in Hastings.
- Manu Pohatu, a teacher at
Te Kohanga Reo o Ngaa Kuaka, Silverdale, Hamilton
-
Maramena Tipiwai, a teacher at Te Kura Motuhake o Tawhiuau,
an area school in Murapara, Bay of Plenty.
- Colin Tarr,
the immediate past president.
ENDS
NZEI Te Riu Roa
New Zealand Educational Institute
NZEI Te Riu Roa members work in every community in New Zealand, leading and advocating for quality public education.
We are the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services. We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand's largest education union, a Treaty based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.
We have the most important job in New Zealand - educating for the future.
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