For the third time (once in a by-election, the previous triennial election, and now), I’m standing for the Board of Trustees at Ahuroa School. For anyone that’s interested, here’s my statement:
My son, Samuel (Year 5), and I have lived on the Puhoi/Ahuroa border for a year now, but have been members of the school community since 2011. I’m self-employed and work from home, doing software management, design, and development (in security and organisational management).
I’ve been a board member since February 2012, was associate chair in 2013, and have been chair since February 2014. I enjoy learning and have completed multiple board professional development sessions every year since joining the board, and have endeavoured to continually build relationships with board members at other schools.
Much of my life has focused on education in some way: my parents, grandparents, sister, and various other family members are or were teachers and I’ve spent over a decade teaching, primarily at Massey University, Lifeway College, and Northtec.
I strongly believe that a passion for learning is the most important gift that a school can give to a student. We also have a duty to make sure that the basics of learning are covered, and that students know how to learn, and understand their learning.
There is immense value in all of the contributions that parents/community members make to the school, and serving as a board member is where I feel my skill-set is most useful. I believe I’m well placed to provide continuity and guidance to the incoming board.
The next year is critical for Ahuroa School – we’re due for extensive community consultation again and a thorough review of the school charter, ensuring that we have a common vision for the school going forward. We also need to figure out what the community wants for Year 7 and 8 students, and whether that’s at Ahuroa School. We’ve got a great principal that’s now familiar with the school and community, and the board needs to support her and the rest of the staff in implementing the vision that we create.
If you’d like to know anything else, feel free to email me (tony.meyer@gmail.com), find me on Facebook (facebook.com/tonyandrewmeyer) or Twitter (twitter.com/tonyandrewmeyer), or find me at school (I’m usually at whānau time).
For posterity’s sake, my 2013 and 2012 statements are below as well.
2013:
My wife, Olyvia, and I have one son, Samuel, who turns seven this year and is in Woodcock whānau. We currently live on the western side of Warkworth, but are hoping to move to Ahuroa/Puhoi next year. I’m self-employed and work from home, doing software management, design, and development (mostly in security and organisational management).
I’ve been a board member since February of last year, and am currently associate chairperson. I enjoy learning and completed three board professional development sessions in 2012.
Much of my life has focused on education in some way: my parents, grandparents, sister, and various other family members are/were teachers and I spent over a decade teaching at Massey University, Lifeway College, and Northtec before changing to focus solely on computing work in 2012.
I strongly believe that a passion for learning is the most important gift that a school can give to a student. I feel Ahuroa School is doing a good job with this, but there’s always room for improvement, and I’d like to continue helping with this. There is immense value in all of the contributions that parents/community members make to the school, and serving as a board member is where I feel my skill-set would be most useful.
I like that the current board members have a range of opinions about education, but are able to work harmoniously to find the best path for the school. I have no problem voicing disagreement with recommendations to the board, but I’m always willing to be convinced otherwise, and once a decision has been made, I have no problem wholeheartedly supporting it, even if I didn’t originally agree.
If you’d like to know anything else, feel free to call me (021 618 562), find me on Facebook (facebook.com/tonyandrewmeyer) or Twitter (twitter.com/tonyandrewmeyer), or find me dropping off / picking up Samuel from school.
2012:
My wife, Olyvia, and I have one son, Samuel, who turned five and started school at the end of August last year. We currently live on the western side of Warkworth, but are hoping to move to Ahuroa at some point this year. I’m self-employed and work from home, doing software management and development (mostly in security and organisational management).
Much of my life has focused on education in some way: my parents, grandparents, sister, and various other family members are/were teachers and I’ve spent over a decade teaching at Massey University, Lifeway College, and Northtec. I’ve been on various educational committees and boards, but not a Board of Trustees, and none since we had Samuel.
I strongly believe that a passion for learning is the most important gift that a school can give to a student. It seems like the Board and staff are doing an excellent job of this, and I’d like to help them however I can.
I admire that the current Board is able to confront problems, disagree, and work harmoniously to find the best way forward. I feel it’s important that the parent representatives ensure that views, concerns, and goals of parents and the community form part of the decision-making process of the Board.
Although I’m new to the school, I believe I have insight into education and could help the Board guide the school so that the staff are free to the best job possible teaching our kids. I have knowledge and expertise related to technology as well, although it seems like the Board is currently handling this well, ensuring that while modern technology is used, it’s only a tool, and must be combined with great teaching and a great curriculum to be effective.
If you’d like to know anything else, feel free to call me (021 618 562), find me on Facebook (facebook.com/tonyandrewmeyer) or Twitter (twitter.com/tonyandrewmeyer), or find me dropping off / picking up Samuel from school.
TonyAndrewMeyer 