Sarah has a history of developing and leading teams of high functioning practitioners and supporting emerging leaders to reach their aspirations. Until recently, she was Principal at Karaka School, a high-performing full primary school located in South Auckland. Taking an evidence-based approach to pedagogy, Sarah effectively embedded Assessment for Learning culture and practice schoolwide, becoming a model of practice for other practitioners. Her experience in leading organisational change, coaching and mentoring, curriculum design and delivery, assessment practices, collaborative inquiry and sprint cycles, ensured the development of an inclusive and positive school culture committed to continuous improvement.
As co-lead of a diverse 13-school Kāhui Ako, Sarah was instrumental in introducing GROWTH Coaching as a model to develop both leadership and pedagogy across the Kāhui Ako. She was responsible for writing the Achievement Plan and more recently led the development of the strategic plan to further develop the direction of the Kāhui Ako.
While at Karaka School, Sarah was offered the opportunity to work alongside the Education Review Office as they transitioned to the new Evaluation Framework. Working collaboratively alongside an Evaluator partner, Sarah was able to support schools to develop their own internal capacity by engaging in collaborative sense-making of capacity, capability, organisational systems and processes, and pedagogical practices.
Sarah is experienced in working with Senior and Middle Leadership teams, Kahui Ako and Teachers in the areas of organisational improvement, strategic planning, curriculum development and design, effective pedagogical practices, coaching and mentoring, leadership development and Professional Growth Cycles. She is dedicated to ākonga wellbeing and achievement.
As a passionate Educator and Coach, Sarah values opportunities to develop respectful relationships that lead to the creation of a high-trust environment based on the principles of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, pono and hiranga and where others are empowered to set goals that lead to improved futures. A coaching way of being underpins her approach and commitment to ongoing growth. Sarah aims to challenge and inspire so new perspectives become visible and transformation possible.
