Presiding member
Jared Lee
I am Jared Lee and feel privileged to be your parent representative on Te Ranga’s Board of Trustees. My wife (Melissa) and our two boys are extremely grateful that a school such as Te Ranga still exists in today’s world.
Both my wife and I were bought up in a rural setting and enjoyed our country school education. It’s something that during our professional careers in Forestry and Horticulture would often be favourably commented on by customers, clients, employers or employees. I want to ensure that every child is encouraged to fulfill their potential in a safe and supportive environment. This starts with the board 100% supporting the principal and staff to enable them to teach and inspire our children to be resilient and successful.
Fee Edwards
Finance
Hi my name is Fee Edwards. Both my husband Tom and I went to a rural school in a farming community similar in size to Te Ranga. My husband’s family have been in Te Puke since the late 70s and we have been here for 19 years. I firmly believe that a rural school has the opportunity to provide students with a well-rounded outlook that will set them up to succeed and contribute in a positive manner to our larger communities as they move on to further their education and grow. I believe that a Board of Trustees should operate in a transparent manner with integrity and honesty, making sound responsible decisions that will ensure the school continues to thrive well into the future.
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David Pugh
Hi, my name is David Pugh. My wife Rae and I have lived in Te Puke for over 15 years now and have had all five of our boys attend Te Ranga before transitioning to college. Our three eldest boys are now at Tauranga Boys' College and Waikato University where they have enjoyed both academic and sporting pursuits. Te Ranga has been an excellent place to learn the values of honesty, integrity, excellence, accountability, respect for others, and humility. They have also learnt valuable skills outside of education such as drama, music, sports, crafts, building (huts), leadership training, and public speaking.
As members of the Board of Trustees, we are focused on the academic achievement and well being of every child, and the financial management of the school. We do this by developing a strategic plan for Brendan and the team to implement. We monitor the results over time and adjust the schools goals based on your feedback and other educational indicators. We care about staff, students, family and seek to do what is best for everyone. We are happy to hear from you and welcome you to our board meetings.
Nafi Lutui
Community & Publicty
Mālō e lelei, my name is Nafitalai and I’m a first generation New Zealand born Tongan. My wife
Rachel and I moved down to Te Puke in 2019 from Auckland to pastor a local church in town.
We have three children, Viviena, Ever and Tevesi. Viviena is currently the only one in Te Ranga
with the others joining in no time. Rachel taught in Kowhai for a season and loved it but since
having our son, she now relieves from time to time. The Te Ranga School values encapsulates
the Tongan values that I was brought up with and the fact that it is a small country school made
it very appealing as a Pacific Islander parent to send my children to. As a parent representative
on the Board, I’m here to support the principal in continuing to make this school a great
environment where parents can see their children thrive in all aspects of their lives as well as
their education.
Liz Fisher
Hi, I am Liz Andrew. My partner (Skip), our two boys and I live in rural Te Puke. We love the lifestyle
here and I feel that Te Ranga school offers so many opportunities to the children in our local area. As a rural school Te Ranga is able to give children many options that help support growth and learning. The board of Trustees for Te Ranga supports our Principal, staff and students to grow and learn in a holistic way. With the bush classroom and individual classes, we are well set up to provide for learning. As a board member I am here to help ensure the school can focus on what we need to do to help ready the children in our care, for the next phase in their journey.
Aimee Kennedy
Principal
My name is Aimee Kennedy and I am the acting principal at Te Ranga School for 2023. Having been a student in a rural school myself, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being part of a small, tight-knit community.
I am from Whakatane but have been teaching in the Western Bay for 7 years, and love the community here. Some of my hobbies include; mountain biking, fishing, baking and socialising with friends.
My goal as principal is to ensure that our students receive the best possible education while also preserving the traditions and culture of our rural community. I believe that by fostering a love of learning and a strong sense of community, we can provide our students with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally.
I am excited for the journey ahead, and I look forward to working with our students, families, and staff to create a learning environment that is both supportive and challenging, where each student can reach their full potential.
OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Staff Rep