Rebecca Johns (Joint Coordinator)I have got a BA in Education and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Primary Education. For the last ten years I have been lucky enough to teach children with Special Needs in a variety of capacities. I have been a teacher in a Special Needs school, a Mainstream Support teacher and an ORS funded teacher working with home schooled children. I believe the (not very secret) secret to being a successful teacher is indeed in forming a trusting relationship with who I work with. This goes for students, family and staff alike. To show someone you like them is the best possible base for all other experiences.
Amanda Haywood (Joint Coordinator)I have a Masters in Specialist Teaching in Complex Education Needs (Distinction) from Massey University. I have worked in the education sector for almost 20 years in a variety of classroom, specialist teaching and coordination roles. These have included working as an Ongoing Resourcing
Scheme (ORS) teacher, a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), a primary classroom teacher and as a Joint Coordinator for the SHINE team. My calm patient nature coupled with my ability to connect with students with a range of physical or cognitive disabilities are personal strengths that I bring to the job. I believe that all students have the potential to succeed when they are motivated and confident in their personal, unique abilities. He oranga ngakau, he pikinga waiora: Positive feelings in your heart will enhance your sense of self worth.
Lyne TinklerI received my BA and MEd (specialising in special needs) at the University of Canterbury. I am a primary trained teacher who has focused in working with students with special needs for the last 15 years. I have a particular passion for working with students with ASD, Down Syndrome and global learning delays. I have worked with learners aged from 3 years old to 21, and have worked with students within MLEs, mainstream classrooms, and in home-based learning environments. I thrive on being a team member, and believe passionately in the need to have a solid team built around a student if they are to succeed. I am very privileged to work with several superb teams of parents, teacher aides and learning assistants, teachers, SENCOs, schools, and specialists in and around Christchurch. My strengths lie in behaviour management, supporting literacy, and developing communication strategies in students with unique needs.
Ann WilsonI have a Diploma of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education (Otago) and have been a specialist teacher for eight year following nine years of classroom teaching. My experience is both in the mainstream and as an ORS specialist teacher across several Canterbury school and Te Kura, The Correspondence School. The students I work with range in age from five through to 21 years of age. I have four school-aged boys. Our twins (10 yrs) were born 11 week prematurely and have both been through the early intervention program at The Champion Centre in Christchurch. This has given me an excellent grounding in where those early skills start and how they can be developed. I therefore have the experience and understanding of being a parent and teacher in special education. Working in a team is something I enjoy, and see this as important in getting the best for and out of our students. I am an encouraging, supportive and experienced teacher who quickly gains a good report with students. I delight in looking for unique strengths and next learning steps as we work toward meeting relevant goals.
Helen RussellI completed a Bachelor of Education Honours degree in 1993 and have enjoyed every aspect of my teaching career as it has developed over the years. My experience lies in both mainstream and special needs teaching having worked as a classroom teacher in a Mainstream primary school and with small groups and individuals having difficulties with reading, maths and literacy. I have worked with children with special needs in an integrated setting, in a unit attached to a mainstream school and as an ORS teacher.
The depth of my experience enables me to work in a variety of ways to suit the needs of the setting and the child. My passion lies in finding out what interests and excites a child and to use this to develop learning and to also find ways to ensure inclusion in the classroom supporting the child, teacher aide and teacher. I also feel privileged to work as part of a team with some amazing teachers, teacher aides, families and other professionals and to have such a rewarding job.
Sue NeilsonI have a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma in Primary Education. I am also SPELD trained.
I have been teaching for 23 years. However for the last 13 years I have focused on teaching children with different learning needs. I have worked with many ORS students and with oral language, literacy and numeracy groups.
I am passionate about all the children I work with being really happy and open to learning. I do this by focusing on their strengths and interests and then by thinking quickly about what tools and motivation is required for them to be engaged and to feel successful with their next learning steps. I enjoy working with the many people who are often involved in a child’s learning journey.
Anna HolmesI have joined the Shine team from Glenelg health camp where I have worked for the last 6 years teaching students both in their mainstream schools and teaching at the camp. I was also the itinerant teacher whilst at Glenelg and my job was to ensure a smooth transition back for some of the children into the home school post their stay at camp. I am a primary trained teacher and have worked as a mainstream teacher and a SENCO, both in New Zealand and the UK. I have a social work background and considerable experience working with students requiring behaviour support.
