Room 3: Whaea Jo

Dr Seuss has a quote “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”  To me this epitomises my learning journey as a singer, musician and teacher.  Performance Arts are my passion and this includes interest and enthusiasm for waiata as well as Music, Dance and Drama.

I came to Mamaku School enthusiastic about being selected as an experienced teacher.  I am committed to promoting te reo Māori me ona tikanga so I also include this whakatauki:  Rukuhia te mātauranga ki tōna hōhonutanga me tōna whānuitanga. To pursue knowledge to its greatest depths and broadest horizons.

For the past 27 years, I have had the privilege of teaching around Aotearoa from Tai Tokerau, Tamaki Makaurau through to Te Waiariki rohe.  I moved down from Whangarei, Te Renga Paraoa in July 2018 and worked in Whakatāne for the second half of that year before buying a house in Rotorua at the beginning of 2019. 

My teaching experience began in 1994 at a two teacher school near the Waipoua forest.  In those days I only had a Diploma of Teaching.  I then completed my Bachelor of Education upgrade and graduated in 2014.  After completing my Master of Indigenous Studies degree in Education in 2017, I sought new challenges, which resulted in my move to Rotorua.  As a Pākehā, studying with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi I learnt the value of cooperation and teamwork.  I am a lifelong learner who values the opportunity to continue professional learning and development.

I have an adult son and a teenage daughter, along with one mokopuna.  I play the flute and have taught flute, recorder and ukulele in the past.  Singing and dancing are a component of my teaching approach as well as the importance of being a culturally responsive practitioner.

At Mamaku School, I love sharing my passions with the students and I am always enthusiastic about finding out what passions the tamariki have too.  I feel honoured to be chosen to help educate your tamaiti and to being a member of the Mamaku School whānau, which brings me great pleasure.  Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui.

Mauri ora,

Whaea Jo Collyer