Having been born and raised in the Te Awamutu district, I am excited to have ‘returned home’ as Principal at Korakonui School. Leading a school is all about the people and the relationships you build with them. I strive to build strong relationships with all stakeholders and use those relationships as a basis to build a strong culture that lets everyone become the best they can be.

Primary school should be a time for fun, learning, exploration and success. Children deserve a multitude of fantastic experiences that allow them to grow to become everything they, their whānau and wider community desire them to be. As a Principal, I have a passion for providing the support, encouragement and resourcing to make this happen.

I am a passionate and enthusiastic Principal who enjoys the challenges of the role and relishes the opportunity to engage with children, parents and communities. I love being a hands on Principal and enjoy being involved in creating fantastic learning experiences for our students so they can achieve their full potential.

Kia ora koutou,

Ko Hauraki tōku turangawaewae
Ko te awa o Hikutaia e tiaki ana tōku whānau
Ko te kohatu o Maratoto e pupuri ana tōku manawa
He pākehā ahau, engari kei te ngana ahau kia tautoko, kia marama, kia whakanui te ao Māori.

Hi everyone, I'm from Hauraki, Hikutaia to be precise, and although I am pākehā, I try to celebrate te ao Māori as much as I can.

It's great being a teacher at Kōrakonui. We have wonderful staff, who work tirelessly to provide a very high standard of teaching and learning. I'm very lucky to be able to teach Year 7 & 8 students in Bayley classroom this year.

Outside of school, I spend time with my partner and my soon to be, two children. We hunt, fish, dive, and play squash to pass the time.

Ngā mihi
Fraser

Kia ora,

I have the privilege of teaching one of our Year 5 and 6 classes here at Kōrakonui School. I’m passionate about science and the 'Garden to Table' program, and I love bringing hands-on, real-world learning into our classroom.

For me, teaching is all about building strong relationships and creating a warm, welcoming environment where every child feels valued and inspired to learn. I’m excited to spark curiosity, nurture a love for learning, and support each student to grow and thrive.

Kia ora!
I am proud to be teaching the Year 5 and 6 students in Mangawhio this year. This is my seventh year at Kōrakonui School, and I always enjoy welcoming new families into our school community.
Over the years, I have taught a range of year levels and developed a strong passion for teaching writing, maths, and Structured Literacy.
Alongside my teaching role, I am also the Sports Coordinator at Kōrakonui, supporting students in their physical education and sporting opportunities.

Kia ora
This year, I'm excited to be teaching the year 3 & 4 students in Lethbridge. With my background as an author and storyteller, I've got a real passion for literacy and enjoy motivating my students to share their own tales. I also have a keen interest in maths and games, and I love using games to make our classroom a fun and lively place. To me, teaching and learning is an adventure, and every day I aim to take our class on an exciting journey.

Kia Ora,

My name is Lisa Leather, and I am thrilled to be part of the Kōrakonui team. I am the Junior Team Leader and teaching Year 2 and 3 students in Ngahape. I bring over 20 years of teaching experience from schools in both Aotearoa and England.

I am passionate about building confidence and achievement in literacy and maths, and I look forward to working alongside your amazing children and whānau, as part of our wonderful Kōrakonui community.

Ngā mihi,
Lisa Leather

Kia ora,

My name is Heather Cork, and I am passionate about fostering a love for learning in all children. This year, I am excited to be teaching Year 2 in Mangatutu and feel privileged to be part of the wonderful Kōrakonui School community.

As an experienced junior school teacher, I love creating meaningful learning experiences that incorporate students' interests while encouraging creativity and problem-solving skills. I have a particular passion for art, science, reading, and technologies and enjoy integrating these subjects into other areas of learning.
It is a joy to support children on their learning journeys, watching their confidence grow and their curiosity thrive.

Kia Ora, My name is Kathy Graham and I am excited to be welcoming the new entrants to Te Kawa class in 2025. I have a wealth of effective teaching experience and I am passionate for our 5 years old learners to transition and develop a solid learning journey from the get go. Looking forward to working with our team in 2025.

Hi I'm Faye (Rye) Ashmore. Having spent all my primary school years here at Korakonui, I am extremely passionate to be apart of such a fantastic school and team such as this. Your call is always welcomed ~ (07) 8722762