St Paul’s has welcomed a number of new staff including a new Director of Choral Music, a guidance counsellor and teachers of English, Maori and PE. They each started their new roles at the beginning of term one this year.
Blair Heaton (Guidance Counsellor)
Blair has come to St Paul’s from Auckland Grammar where he taught art since 2004. He also had considerable responsibility as a boarding housemaster for six years and Dean of 145 international students for three years. Blair gained his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Otago and is currently studying for his Masters in Counselling at the University of Waikato. A very successful rugby coach, he was the assistant coach of Auckland Grammar’s 1st XV and in 2016, coached the national championship winning under-15 side.
Heidi Lewis (English)
No stranger to St Paul’s, Heidi taught English in a part time capacity in 2014, before taking up a full time position at Cambridge High School, where she was teacher-in-charge of debating, the gifted and talented and their boys' literacy programme. Prior to this, Heidi taught for two years at Matamata College, two years in the United Kingdom and five years in South Africa where she also gained her Bachelor of Education from the University of Kwa-Zulu in Natal.
Stacey King (English)
Stacey King is another new addition to the tight knit English department at St Paul’s. Stacey was educated in the Franklin area, where she was the Head Girl of Tuakau College, going on to be recognised as dux, before becoming their top scholar in NCEA Level Three. She completed a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and History and a Diploma in Teaching at the University of Waikato, before starting her first teaching position at Onewhero Area School and then Trident High School, where she has taught English and Year 12 History. A very able netball umpire, Stacey was Counties-Manukau umpire of the year in 2010.
Tahau Thompson (Maori)
Matua Thompson started his teaching career at Western Springs College, having gained his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland and an Advanced Maori Language Diploma at Te Whare Wananga o Aotearoa. Tahau was recently head of faculty of Maori at Mt Albert Grammar for four years. Skilled in Kapa Haka, he is a nationally respected performer and tutor. Tahau has a real passion for touch and rugby.
Daniel Harper (PE)
Daniel comes to St Paul’s from the Silver Fern International School in Thailand where he has been the head of department of physical education since 2015. Prior to that, he spent two and a half years as a PE teacher at Hastings Boys' High School, where he ran their cricket academy, assisting with the coaching of their 1st XI and coaching a junior rugby side. Daniel gained his Bachelor of Sport and Recreation at Auckland University of Technology. An accomplished cricketer himself, he has a strong interest and background in hockey.
Tim Carpenter (Director of Choral Music)
Tim joins us as choirmaster, musical director of our productions and director of our elite Chamber Music group. An outstanding musician in his own right, Tim was educated at St Peter’s where he was selected to sing in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir. He has Grade 8 qualification in the organ, cello and singing (all with distinction). He has a Bachelor of Music (performance cello) from the University of Auckland, an honours degree (in conducting) and is currently just completing his masters. Until recently Tim was Head of Orchestra at St Kentigern College and Musical Director of the Hamilton Civic Choir. This year Tim is undertaking his Diploma of Teaching at the University of Waikato. Among his many accomplishments has been his selection as associate conductor of the Auckland Youth Orchestra and the Waikato OPUS Orchestra. Tim will be a huge asset for St Paul’s choir and music programme.
