Our People

Mike Allen : Acting Principal / senior class teacher

I've been a teacher since 1986; I trained at the Christchurch College of Education. All of my teaching has been in Christchurch. I started at Breens Intermediate 2006 and taught the until moving to Mt Pleasant School in 1993. In 1996 I went to Linwood North School as Assistant Principal and then in 2000 I took up a position at Thorrington as Deputy Principal. In 2006 I took a study year to complete my Bachelors Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Management. In 2012 I took up a position as Principal at Aranui School. Shortly after this the Minister of Education announced it's closure at the beginning of 2017.
I am really enjoying being at Lake Rotoiti School and I've already been on a number of short walks in the area. I expect that my wife will take some time off work to join me here and my adult sons are planning some hunting and skiing visits.
I'm really enjoying my role of Principal of a small, country school in New Zealand. I love how things happen at Lake Rotoiti School and the way that the community pull together and support each other. When I'm not at school I like to be sailing, hunting, fishing, and working on my car or house. If I'm inside - I'm reading.

Nicky crawford : junior class teacher

I’ve been the Junior classroom teacher at Lake Rotoiti School since 2004; before that I taught in Wellington for a really short time and before that … well, I wasn’t a teacher at all, but a town planner! I grew up in Nottingham in the UK (the home of Robin Hood!) and did my town planning degree at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, also in the UK, graduating in 1993. In 2002, I moved to NZ and I did a Graduate Diploma in Teaching at Wellington Teachers’ College, now Victoria University. I am currently studying in my own time for a Masters in Education at the University of Canterbury and it would be lovely if I could complete it in 2018. I am also very interested in Philosophy for Children - I have completed the Level 2 training in this area and have presented at workshops and conferences on the practice of teaching philosophy to young children. My twins, Fergus and Isobel, were born in 2006 and they are both students at Lake Rotoiti School. Lots of people I meet say that their schools are like a family - I think that our school IS a family. We all know each other really well and I love the fact that everyone looks out for each other. Away from school, I like to hang out with my children, especially when we get the chance to go on trips together, and I like to take photographs, read (lots and lots!), play the harp and cook.

emma panting : principal release teacher

I’ve been an English Teacher and an Art Teacher in colleges and schools in the UK and here in NZ for the last 18 years and really love teaching both these subjects and other things in between here at Lake Rotoiti School. When I’m not in St. Arnaud I’m probably in my studio painting someone’s portrait or teaching grown-ups about Art. I also love being mum to my two boys, three dogs and other growing menagerie. I relish opportunities to take the Senior class on Museum or Art Gallery trips but also feel privileged to share those wonderful experiences that make our school unique - it could mean gliding or painting props or exploring Black Valley stream for macroinvertebrates. I love how everyone is a courageous learner here and that means endless possibilities for creativity at our beautiful, colourful school.

fran andrews: relieving teacher/ bus driver

stephanie coote : teacher aide

Fran has been a relieving teacher at Lake Rotoiti School for a year. She lives in St Arnaud with her husband, Graeme and she is passionate about Te Reo Maori. Fran also looks after our EnviroSchools programme. Outside of work Fran has many hats, including karate teacher, community hall caretaker and grandmother.

I have been a Teacher Aide at Lake Rotoiti School for 5 years. Eight years ago, along with with my husband, John we made our home in St Arnaud after spending over 40 years travelling to our bach with our 3 children. We are now Granny and Grandpa to 4 gorgeous grandsons, one of whom has just started school here in St Arnaud. I worked for many years in early childhood education before taking on the role of Teacher Aide here. It is a privilege to be part of a wonderful community and school and to be working with children which is one of my true passions.

tracy younger : office manager / accounts

I have been working at Lake Rotoiti School for over 6 years now. We moved to St Arnaud from the UK in 2002. I am married to Chris, who is the Head Chef at The Alpine Lodge and I have 3 children; Megan, who is 18 and is currently overseas, working in the UK; Charlie, who is 12 and goes to Lake Rotoiti School and Milo (our chocolate labrador) who is 6 and is best friends with Ruby the school dog. I enjoy holidaying and eating out and my favourite things are crisps and 'Coronation Street!'

Jan thomson : librarian

Hi, I’m Jan and I’m the school librarian. Well, I’m not really a librarian, I’m actually an artist. But once a week, before I open my studio, I wander down and work in the school library for an hour or two.

We moved to Rotoiti from Wellington about six years ago , and one of the first things we noticed was the school and its friendly kids. (In fact, our grown up kids wished that we’d moved here while they were still young enough to go to the school!)

I’ve always loved books, I enjoyed reading to our children, and now to our three grandchildren. And yes, I admit it…sometimes when I’m working away in the library I spot a favourite book and have to have a little read. So I’m proud to be part of the school team , encouraging another generation of readers to enjoy the magic of books. I look forward to meeting you….

gary and kirsten dick : cleaner in charge & grounds maintenance

Kirsten and Gary keep our school so clean and they never complain when we make a mess! Gary also makes sure that our field is mown each week in the summer and deals with all the weeds.

stu davidson : bus Driver

Stu is the bus driver (he takes it in turn with Tracy). When he's not driving the bus he's working on his farm.

ruby : the dog

Hi, I’m Ruby, a black Labrador, and you could say that I’m the school pet. However I like to think differently. Lake Rotoiti is a great place to go if you want a nice midday snack, morning snack, afternoon snack or a snack at any time of the day. The nice kids are always leaving little tidbits on tables and under the carpet. No matter where you go there will always be something to eat. A bit of sausage, a slice of bread, even an old sock. Recently the older children have been cooking sausages on the barbeque, my favourite, and I’m still working out how to sneak one. When the children all rush into the big kennels to be talked to, I like to sleep by the door, or under a table, maybe a chair, sometimes even in the staff kennel! Sometimes the head teacher feeds me vegetables - I just don’t see the point in them when you can have sausages or socks, and they taste absolutely revolting! I guess it might be time for a bit of history, although to be quite honest I would much rather sleep! I was born in 2004 into a litter of six (I am quite old now and the vet has called me 'a walking miracle'!) and at a young age I was transported to live with the Crawford family. I come to school almost every day and I must say it is quite a snack bomb. (As told to Shepherd Joice!)