There are 18 teachers working within the school, including The Principal. The Principal is the leader of all three strands, however a number of other teachers have leadership responsibilities as well that support school management. Most teachers can be contacted via email - write the teacher's first name, then @otari.school.nz.
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
Principal/Tumuaki: The Principal
is Clifford Wicks. Clifford is responsible for the day to day management
of the school, curriculum leadership and pastoral care of students. He
also provides teaching support, where needed, in literacy and art.
Clifford also enjoys teaching singing and assists with school
productions. Clifford has taught all ages, from New Entrants to year 8,
in a range of schools, throughout the past thirty years. He throughly
enjoys being Principal of Otari School, a position he has held for 14 years. Clifford's email is principal@otari.school.nz.
Deputy Principal: The Deputy Principal is Susan West. Susan is also the SENCO (Special Needs
Education Coordinator,) and the Original Strand leader. Susan teaches
years 3 and 4 in Kakano classroom.
Assistant Principal: The
Assistant Principal is Api Nathan. Api is also the Māori Immersion
Strand leader. Api teaches years 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Tui class.
Montessori Strand Leader: Seetha Ganesan is the Montessori Strand leader. Seetha also teaches year 5 to 8 in Ngaio class. Seetha is also responsible for overall sports organisation.
Year 1 and 2 Syndicate leader: Britta Martini has particular organisational responsibilities pertaining to the education programmes for year 1 and 2 students. Britta is also responsible for facilitating environmental education. Britta teaches year 1 and 2 in Kaikomako.
Year 6 to 8 Syndicate leader: Clifford Wicks has particular organsational responsibilities pertaining to the education programmes for year 6 to 8 students.
Original Strand: (Strand Leader: Susan West)
Years 1 & 2: Britta Martini teaches Kaikomako class.
Years 3 &4: Susan West teaches Kakano class.
Years 5 & 6: Sacha Fell teaches Kereru class.
Years 7 & 8: Johanne Wicks teaches Totara class.
Maori Immersion Strand: (Strand Leader: Api Nathan)
Years 1 & 2: Lynette Franklin teaches Pounamu class.
Years 3 & 4: Glenise Ward teaches Kowhai class.
Years 5, 6, 7 and 8: Api Nathan teaches Tui Class.
Montessori Strand: (Strand Leader: Seetha Ganesan)
Years 1, 2, 3 and 4: Deborah Sorensen teaches Pohutukawa class.
Years 5, 6, 7 and 8: Seetha Ganesan teaches Ngaio class.
Teaching support throughout strand: Sally Barraud(Part-time).
OTHER TEACHERS
Reading Recovery Teacher: Kathy Heath is the Reading Recovery teacher, working one to one with children throughout the day. Kathy also delivers special needs teacher support and ESOL teaching when needed.
Part-Time Teachers: Shani Leda works in Kereru and Kakano. Sally Barraud works in Ngaio and Pohutukawa.
Classroom Release Teacher: Cilla Noblett releases teachers in the Immersion strand for the two days classroom release time they are entitled to each term. Teachers in the other two strands are also released but no permanent teacher has been appointed.
Specialist Teacher: Hanna Randall works with individual students.
Teacher Librarian: Johanne Wicks is responsible for managing the school library.