Board of Trustees Members
School Principal
Simonne Goodall
Kia ora koutou,
I have been an educator for 32 years and am passionate about education. I’m really excited to work with this proactive and dedicated Board to provide the best outcomes for the students, staff and whānau community at Berhampore School.
I love spending time at the beach and with my friends and whānau. I am an avid sports fan and also enjoy reading, writing and photography. Travel and nature are my passions and I love to combine them. I recently visited Antarctica which has always been at the top of my bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. I really hope to support the tamariki and kaimahi at Berhampore School to reach their dreams and potential. I hope that we can provide your child/ren with some fun, laughter, passion and a love of learning.
Board Chair
Kate Lee-Gleisner
Kia ora koutou,
I’m Kate, Mum to Livie (Y5) and Jessa who is now at SWIS. I’ve been on the Board since mid 2021. Some of you will know me as the school’s netball coordinator. My background is in international development, strategy and impact reporting.
In 2021, I led the development of our new strategic plan on behalf of the Board. I really enjoyed the opportunity that the strategy process provided to consult with staff, tamariki and whānau, and am keen to continue to work with the Board and the staff to deliver on the vision the strategy sets out.
Staff Representative
Courtney Miles
Kia Ora Koutou ,
My name is Courtney Miles and I am the staff representative for the Berhampore School Board. I moved to Wellington 2 years ago and am loving it. I teach in the Junior Team and have a passion for health and wellbeing. I spend a lot of time in the garden (at home and school) and enjoy incorporating this into the teaching day. I am looking forward to improving my knowledge of how the school is run, and what the board undertakes.
Board Member
Hannah van Voorthuysen
Kia ora koutou,
I’m the mother of Leila in Year 3 and we’ve recently returned from three years in Solomon Islands. Prior to this we lived in Berhampore and have really enjoyed coming back to the community. I’m a long-time public servant and have experienced the schooling system in a few different countries.
Berhampore School has so many strengths, especially its diversity and creativity. It’s important to continue to build on these strengths while looking at how to continue to improve and develop in other areas for the benefit of our children and the community.
Board Member
Erin Grace
Hi everyone,
I’m Erin and my son Henry is in Room 6. I’ve previously been the chair of Henry’s daycare governance group, which was challenging and rewarding.
In my day job, I’m a people manager at one of the agencies in Parliament with a focus on diverse and inclusive leadership.
Berhampore School is part of a diverse and welcoming community and I’d like to be part of the great mahi that goes on to make it such a neat place
Board Member
Juliet Barker
Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Juliet Barker tōku ingoa. My husband Steve and I have three boys, Hunter (now at intermediate), Thom in Year 3 and Wyn who just started at Berhampore School this year. Added to the mix we also have an energetic puppy called Tora.
As an Architect with experience both abroad and in New Zealand I am passionate about providing the best possible built environment for children to learn and play. I would be very pleased to be able to contribute specialist skills towards the schools property assets and future developments.
PPMET Representative
Lacey Blass
Hi I’m Lacey, mum to 3 boys, Kohen 10 (year 6), Meyer 8 (year 4), and Paxton 3 (preschool). Our family has been a part of the Montessori Unit at Berhampore for 5 years now, and our youngest is at Montessori preschool in Kingston. My husband, Justin, and I are from the States, but we have lived in Wellington for 15 years, most recently in Brooklyn. We love being a part of Berhampore School and value all the ways that the community pushes and shapes what it means to educate. Professionally I have my Master’s in Education and I am a CliftonStrengths coach who works with individuals and teams in professional development.
Finances
Sam Green
My name is Sam Green and we have Teddy in Hihi 4 at Berhampore. I have been an accountant, in some shape or form, for almost 16 years and enjoy applying some of the skills learnt in my profession to my role on the Berhampore School Board – a position I have held since July 2020. I joined the board with a passion to see some planning and action put in place to create new play spaces for our tamariki and we are making progress on the board’s masterplan – a framework for the indoor and outdoor spaces we want at our future school. I have benefited greatly from the insights into the inner workings of Berhampore school, and have admiration for the incredible job our management and teaching team do for our tamariki each day.
Co-Opted Board Member
Sarah-Jane Hickman
I’m Sarah-Jane (SJ). My husband Josh and I have two daughters at Berhampore School, Elsie in Year 5 and Greer in Year 2. We also have Rufus, an energetic whippet who is well known to the children at Berhampore School. Our family have lived in Berhampore since 2012 and we love living in such a vibrant, diverse and supportive community.
I’m a lawyer with 15 years’ experience working in private practice and in- house legal roles in New Zealand and the UK, across a wide range of legal areas.
I really enjoy the opportunity to be involved with the Board and use my skills to continue to foster good governance and help to deliver the school’s strategic plan for the benefit of our tamariki and the Berhampore community.
