PCT Beginning Teacher Programmes
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PCT Beginning Teacher Programmes
Team Profiles
Jo Williams
Lead Mentor for the Year, Facilitation and Course Coordinator
Jo has been teaching for over 30 years. In the last 20 years she has mentored and advised PCTs as part of their Induction and Mentoring Programme at Kohia Education Centre at the University of Auckland and for Learning Network in West Auckland. Jo specialises in new entrant teaching but continues to teach across the age ranges. Her strengths lie in developing early literacy skills.
Jo has been a One Day School teacher, working with gifted learners and brings this experience to share with beginning teachers in mainstream education to develop questioning, inquiry and thinking skills in their own learning environments. She has also been an Ells (ESOL) teacher. Alongside her work with beginning teachers, Jo teaches part-time at Laingholm Primary School and also runs student visual art workshops. She is dedicated to remain teaching in the classroom so as to stay current, realistic and 'walking the talk' with new teachers!
Lucie Cheeseman
Maths
For the past 18 years, Lucie Cheeseman has had the privilege of serving as a leading mathematics consultant, walking alongside schools and communities to transform their mathematics learning journeys. A seasoned and inspiring voice in education, Lucie has shared her transformative work at leadership forums, national conferences, PCT courses, publications and on the international stage, including in Hong Kong.
Grounded in extensive mahi across Aotearoa and within richly diverse, multicultural kura, she has cultivated deeply trusted, enduring relationships with leaders, kaiako, and ākonga alike. At the heart of Lucie’s practice is a vibrant mission: to ignite a sense of curiosity, wonder, passion and pure joy in mathematics. By championing robust, personalized, and curriculum-focused learning, she empowers both teachers and learners to see mathematics not simply as a subject, but as a creative, multidimensional, and beautiful way of thinking—opening doors to endless possibility.
Saga Vaisagote-Frost
Literacy, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Assessment for Learning
Saga is MoE accredited Structured Literacy Approaches Facilitator Y0-8 and MoE accredited Maths PLD Facilitator and is part of our PCT team as well as working with schools.
She is an experienced educator and has developed effective teaching practices in the classroom and supported school-wide goals as a team leader and as an across schools leader for her Kāhui Ako. Saga is experienced in bilingual education, having recently taught in a Samoan bilingual unit.
She is dedicated to forming mutually respectful relationships and supporting students to excel in all areas of the curriculum and the wider school setting, and has extensive knowledge of how to be a culturally responsive practitioner.
Saga knows that learners' gifts and talents need to be exposed in a safe and nurturing environment. Saga empowers teachers to reach their full potential through assessment for learning. She helps teachers foster learning-focused relationships, co-construct professional learning plans, accelerate learning practices, deepen curriculum content knowledge and embed sustainable reflective practices.
Jill Bibby
Literacy, Languages
Kia ora, my name is Jill Bibby and I have taught in a wide variety of schools both in the UK and New Zealand during the last 16 years. In the past 9 years I have taught in the 0-2 age range. Whilst I enjoy all aspects of literacy a new focus for me has been as a BSLA facilitator, and I enjoy working with fellow teachers to support them on their Structured Literacy journey.
I look forward to supporting PCTs on their journey navigating the new literacy curriculum. Being a language graduate and a qualified TESOL teacher enables me to teach many literacy skills to all ākonga.
Manpreet Dhaliwai
Literacy, Digital Literacy
Manpreet has been teaching for over 16 years. In the last 14 years she has been a mentor to PCT's and has facilitated many Literacy PLD workshops for both experienced and beginning teachers. She has an innovative, creative and energetic teaching style and is passionate about sharing her wealth of knowledge and resources with teachers starting out in the profession.
She is particularly skilled in literacy and digital technology and has developed an effective and comprehensive way of combining these curriculum areas in her work-smart approach to the teaching of reading and writing. Manpreet gained a Master of Education in 2014 and has a Post Graduate Diploma in TESSOL from the University Auckland.
Nicky Fleming
Literacy, Mentoring
I have been teaching for over 25 years and currently I am a DP at Mt Roskill Intermediate School. I have been the Learning Leader for Literacy at MRI and been involved in the Literacy and Maths Project Groups with the Puketāpapa Kāhui Ako.
Previously I have mentored and facilitated the Year Seven and Eight PCT Programme at Kohia Education Centre, University of Auckland. My portfolios include SENCo, Curriculum, Transition, Pasifika and I am the DP from MRI who sits on the Kāhui Ako Working Group.
Diane Hobby
Te Reo Māori and Tikanga, Mentoring
Diane is a dedicated, culturally responsive educator with 48 years of experience spanning classroom teaching of New Entrant through to Year 8. She is a valuable member of our team who specialises in the delivery of Te Reo me ngā Tikanga Māori across mainstream primary education whilst also bringing many years of experience mentoring beginning teachers. She has supported schools to develop robust, sustainable bicultural programmes and has been a curriculum leader and worked with the Ministry of Education leading student wellbeing initiatives.
Diane is a realistic practitioner who is actively walking her own te reo Māori learning journey, uniquely positioning her to inspire, mentor, and give back to the teaching community with deep empathy and cultural integrity and always provides beginning teachers with a ‘safe space’ to develop Te Reo me ngā Tikanga Māori.
She is an accomplished Kapa Haka tutor with a lifetime passion for guiding student groups to performance level.
Graham Cox
Science/STEM
Graham has over 20 years teaching experience and is an Assistant Principal. He has taught in West Auckland most of this time and has taught every year group. Graham runs his school's sports and performing arts programmes. His strengths are varied and he comes to us as a good all-rounder educator.
At the heart of his classroom is engagement and boosting self esteem. He uses science to encourage engagement and motivation with his students as well as reminding us all that humour, fun and learning through a hands-on approach is the pathway to achieving this. Creating wonder, developing a love of learning through science and encouraging students (and teachers) to always ask, “where is the science in this?” is at the core when he presents at PCT Beginning Teachers courses.
Glenn Pressnell
Digital Technology, Neurodiversity, Neuro-advantage and Mentoring
Glenn has been teaching at Owairaka Primary School, Mt Albert for 15 years and mentors beginning teachers. He has taught across the age ranges. During this time Glenn has been involved in developing school websites, keeping up to date regarding cyber-safety and helping staff upskill with digital Student Management Systems (SMS) and family communication platforms such as Hero.
Glenn’s role in school requires him to be forever on the pulse with new initiatives in digital technology/AI and is a valuable member of our team who offers us all regular support with fast-paced changes. He offers a teacher-friendly approach on how to effectively and efficiently utilise technology in classroom settings on a day to day basis with our students at every level and enjoys researching the best websites available. Integrating user-friendly digital technology throughout the curriculum is very much a part of Glenn's teaching approach.
In addition, Glenn brings both personal experience and professional knowledge to neurodiversity, driving his commitment to increasing teachers’ awareness where all types of minds can innovate and thrive.
Lisa Sparey
Neurodiversity, Neuro-advantage, LSC
Teaching is my passion and after many years teaching at different levels both in NZ and overseas, I still get a 'buzz' when I teach – I love those special teaching moments! I always strive to help each child reach their potential by building strong relationships and making connections. I am currently working as a learning support coordinator so I have the opportunity to work across the school with colleagues, whānau, agencies and most importantly our amazingly talented ākonga.
I have held leadership roles in curriculum, learning support and community and I have been a facilitator for new teachers, experienced teachers and teacher aides for both literacy and neurodiversity PLD workshops. When I am not teaching and thinking of new ideas, you will find me at the beach, often with my whānau and friends or creating a new art project.
Nikki Johnson and Florence Rodwell
Movement, P.E, Health, Fitness
Nikki Johnson and Florence Rodwell are dedicated Healthy Active Learning Advisors working for CLM Community Sport. They impart a valuable message to our beginning teachers in saying – "The takeaway from this session for you is that teaching Physical Education is easier than expected, you have the ability to change the rules of the activities and as long as you have learning intentions connected to what you are doing the possibilities are endless!
We will broaden your perception of what is possible when teaching Physical Education."
Both Nikki and Florence are passionate about building teachers' confidence, knowledge and understanding of the Health and Physical Education learning area through a range of thought-provoking discussions and practical activities.
Nikki has been involved in education for over a decade and brings a wealth of knowledge of Physical Education and Health from both a primary and senior school perspective.
Florence is a trained primary school teacher and is skilled in mentoring our new teachers; she attended our Manukau PCT Programme herself several years ago so she fully understands what our programmes are all about and is paying it forward, passing what she knows onto our beginning teachers.
Ruby Wright
Social Science
Ruby Wright is an Intermediate teacher and is knowledgeable in the field of social sciences. She is able to share effective and relatable ideas and activities with teachers regarding the ‘how’ to implement concepts around society, culture, and human behaviour.
Ruby has a good understanding of what it is like to be a beginning teacher; she attended our very own PCT Manukau programme and knows the importance of providing new teachers with manageable and practical ideas and resources in the classroom to deliver social sciences across the year 4-8 student age range. Ruby is committed to her own learning journey and is currently studying the Master of Education, specialising in Digital Education at Massey University.
Alongside full-time teaching and studying, Ruby sometimes has time to follow her other interests! She enjoys spending time with family and friends, running and playing the Alto Saxophone.
Alison Miller
Enrolments