Dorothy Burt 

Manaiakalani Education Programme Leader

Dorothy leads The Manaiakalani Programme in Aotearoa NZ.  She is based in Tāmaki and also leads the PLD teams in the ten Manaiakalani Outreach clusters.

She has taught across the sector in her years as a classroom teacher (primary, intermediate and college) and was a founding member of Manaiakalani in 2006.

She been offered corporate experiences which include being an eFellow alumni,  ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator), GCT (Google Certified Teacher, and a Hapara World class educator.

Kerry Boyde-Preece

Kerry is a Manaiakalani Outreach Facilitator primarily focused on secondary schools across the Te Hiku Cluster and the Kaikohekohe Cluster. Prior to becoming a Manaiakalani Outreach Facilitator, Kerry taught Digital Technologies and Visual Art and Design at secondary school level. In 2015 she was awarded a Woolf Fisher Lead Teacher Scholarship and completed her Masters in Education. She also holds a Post Grad in E-Learning and Digital Technologies with Canterbury University. Kerry is passionate about putting students at the heart of learning by supporting teachers' practices to utilise digital technologies. 

Donna Yates 

Donna lives in the beautiful Coopers Beach in the far North of New Zealand. She is a teacher who is currently working for Manaiakalani as an Outreach Facilitator in the Te Hiku Cluster in the Far North. This is her  third year in the position. Before this, she was a Mathematics and Statistics facilitator for 15 years working for University of Auckland, Cognition Education, and Donna Yates Consulting. She has two children that are 18 and 20.

Joanne Ryken

 I am Acting Principal at Pompallier School in 2020. I have lived and worked in the Far North for many years. My children all grew up near Taipa. One of my daughters lives locally and my grandchildren are all at Manaiakalani schools. 

I have been DP with a classroom at Pompallier for the last four years. Prior to that I was a Literacy facilitator with the University of Auckland. Last year I had the privilege of being a Manaiakalani Innovative Teacher, along with a team of nine other great teachers from around New Zealand. My passions include STEM learning, especially Science; books and reading; life long learning; and working with students.

'Pick-a-path' stories in Scratch

Monika Kern: Education Manager, Digital Educator for Raranga Matihiko

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

An experienced teacher and PLD facilitator, Monika is the Education Manager for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Her team is responsible for delivering education programmes to school aged students as well as an increasing number of professionals both through face to face sessions and online. As one of the Raranga Matihiko facilitators she works with kura and schools from around Northland.

Venessa Davan

I have been teaching at Paparore School since 2010 and have been the driving force towards upgrading the infrastructure and the implementation of digital technologies.  I went from a classroom with only 1 iPad (my personal one at that) to working in a 1:1 classroom and leading the implementation of the Manaiakalani Kaupapa. I've stepped into the roll as a facilitator in 2018 for a term, and have since continued to work part time for Manaiakalani as a co-coach at DFI  (Digital Fluency Intensive).  I have been running online and face-to-face toolkits, PLD sessions, orientation days and  Manaiakalani staff meetings. 

Tina Takimoana

I teach Year 7 & 8 at Ahipara School and have lead the integration of digital technologies when we begun our journey in 2014. I am currently one of the Lead Teachers for our Te Hiku cluster, and also an in-school CoL teacher for Te Hiku Kahui Ako.  I completed the Digital Intensive Fluency in 2018 and gained Level 1 as a Google Educator - this was valuable learning both personally and professionally.

This year I am extremely fortunate to be a Manaiakalani Innovative Teacher, along with nine others from around Aotearoa. I have a particular interest in UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and using digital technologies so students are not limited but that they can be successful in their learning. My passion in teaching is success for all learners and no one gets left behind!