Welcome to our new staff

By Staff | Posted: Monday February 10, 2020

Over the next few weeks we will introduce our new staff members

Bronwyn Lewis

Kia ora! My name is Bronwyn Lewis and I am teaching Food and Nutrition part time this year for Ms Stevens who is shortly going on maternity leave. I am from Dunedin and have a background in Clothing & Textiles, and Food Science. I am excited to be teaching at Kavanagh College this year and have found it to be a welcoming, supportive and friendly environment by both staff and students. 

Kerryn Olsen

Kia Ora. My name is Kerryn Olsen and I am delighted to begin teaching here at Kavanagh college. I am teaching junior Social Inquiry, English and senior Religious Studies.I grew up in Oamaru and have recently moved here from Christchurch. I have lived in Dunedin previously, and am happy to be back enjoying everything this city has to offer.

I am excited to get to know the wider Kavanagh community, please introduce yourself if you see me around!

Maya Tate-Manning

Nei ngā kupu whakamiha ka rere
E ngā haukāinga, Tēnā koutou
E ngā whānau whānui o Te Kāreti o Kawana, Tēnā koutou
E ngā akonga, Tēnā koutou
Nō Suomi me Airani ōku tūpuna
Ko Maya Tate-Manning tōku ingoa

I tipu ake ahau i Waikouaiti i te taha o te puke o Matanaka. Ko Lars tōku hoa rangatira, tokorua āku tamariki. My te reo Māori journey began when I was a teenager, and more than 30 years later I am still learning. “Ko te reo Māori te kākahu o te whakaaro, te huarahi i te ao tūroa” (The Māori language is the cloak of thought and the pathway to this natural world). When I am not teaching I enjoy getting outdoors with my family and I also enjoy painting, and singing in a choir. Last year I taught NCEA te reo Māori at Queens High School and prior to that at Bayfield High School. I began my teaching career as a Visual Art teacher at secondary schools in both Whakatāne and Paraparaumu. I look forward to getting to know the students and the wider Kavanagh College whānau. I have been impressed by the manaakitanga demonstrated by both the students and staff at Kavanagh College.

Nō runga i ngā tai o mihi, Nāku noa, nā Whaea Maya 

Brent Ford

I have spent most of my teaching career at East Otago High School as the Head of English there, before being appointed as Head of English at Kavanagh College. I am passionate about the teaching of written, visual and verbal language while also getting involved in the community through sports such as football and hockey. The students and staff have been so welcoming and I look forward to building further positive relationships with the Kavanagh College community.