Staff Profiles

Laura Matthews – Room 2

Hi, I’m Laura Matthews and this year I am teaching Year 1 students in the lovely Room 2 classroom. I grew up and was educated in Taranaki and am passionate about giving back to my community and and teaching in the same environment.
I love teaching the younger students and am passionate about learning through hands on activities. I enjoy teaching the arts and on the weekends you can find me drawing or creating.
I am looking forward to getting to know all the students and their whānau. Feel free to visit the classroom and see all the exciting things we get up to this year.

Lisa Sawtell – Room 3

Kia ora, I’m Lisa Sawtell.

I’m excited to be on the junior side of the school again this year, teaching Year 1 and 2 learners. I’m looking forward to meeting my class, building strong relationships and most of all having fun together. I started my teaching career in 2010, here in New Plymouth. I have since been lucky to travel overseas and teach in the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and
Kazakhstan. It’s great to be back home in Taranaki and getting to join the Vogeltown whanau in 2021. I’m passionate about Visual Arts and Digital Technology and enjoy finding new things to include in my classroom programme. 

Outside of school you will find me outdoors, with my partner and my very active dog, Luna.

Luna is lucky enough to come and visit the kids at school sometimes.

Erin Kissick – Room 4

Hi, I’m Erin Kissick and I’m currently teaching in Room 4 with the lovely Year 1 & 2 children! I aim to create a vibrant learning environment where children feel safe to give things a go and have fun. I think it is important to build positive relationships, to promote self-esteem and to create a sense of belonging so that great learning can take place!
I have spent most of my teaching career teaching at amazing schools in New Plymouth, across all age levels. I have a daughter, Emily, who lives in Auckland and also a large extended family that I like to hang out with. I enjoy getting outdoors and going for long walks or hiking on our beautiful                Mt Taranaki. I love teaching at Vogeltown School! The staff are amazing and it really feels like one big Vogeltown Whānau! I feel lucky to be working here and you are welcome to visit us in Room 4 anytime!

Lee Lash & Katie Stone – Room 5

Kia ora, I’m Katie Stone and I’ve been job sharing at the Junior School with Lee Lash since 2016, teaching Year 1 and 2 learners. I always look forward to getting to know our class and creating an environment children look forward to coming to. I started my teaching career in 2004 at a little country school in South Taranaki. I then spent a few years at Coastal Taranaki School and Bell Block School before starting our family.
We have 4 children aged between 11 and 3 which keeps us busy. We are often out and about at different sporting events and local activities.
I thoroughly enjoy my time here and love the friendly environment Vogeltown has!

Kia ora koutou, I’m Lee Lash and I have been teaching at Vogeltown School since 2016 with my wonderful job share partner, Katie. I love teaching in the junior school and enjoy getting to know all the children in my class. Outside of school, I spend most of my time with my awesome family, surfing and swimming at the beach, on the side of sports fields, up the
mountain - we love to be outdoors!

Adrienne Treadway – Room 6

Hi, I’m Adrienne Treadway and I teach New Entrants in Room 6. I began my teaching career in England where I trained to teach and then taught for 7 years in an Infant School teaching 4-7 year olds. After moving back to New Zealand with my young family I found myself in New Plymouth and am delighted to be working at Vogeltown School. It has an amazing
supportive staff and fantastic kids.
I love teaching the younger children and getting them off to a great start on their learning journey. This year I am excited to be developing a play based learning classroom and will be working on developing the outside learning environment.

Lee Newland – Room 7 – NE’s – Taranaki Team Leader (DP)

I have had the pleasure of teaching at Vogeltown School for a number of years. I teach New Entrants at the junior school and have the wonderful job of welcoming new 5 year olds into the school as they begin their school life at Vogeltown.
I aim to create a classroom environment that is welcoming, vibrant and conducive to learning. I enjoy working in partnership with our families to ensure each 5 year old’s start to school life is a happy and successful one.
I am looking forward to 2023, continuing the learning journey with some children and beginning it with others.

Celeste McLean – Room 8

My name is Celeste McLean. I am a fourth year teacher who was very lucky to join the Paetoki team in Term 3, 2022.
I am passionate about sport, particularly golf and netball. On the weekends I enjoy spending my time outdoors and you may find me on the golf course, at the netball courts, exploring out beautiful region or in my backyard gardening.
Prior to teaching I spent some time overseas where I attended Fairleigh Dickinson University on a golf scholarship. I was very fortunate to travel all over America to compete in a sport that I enjoyed. Through sport I found that I loved teaching and helping tamariki further develop their skills. As a teacher, I aim to provide a safe environment where students are confident enough to take risks with their learning.
The Vogeltown whanau has made me feel very welcome and I’m looking forward to the year
ahead!

Matt Goodwin – Room 9

Kia ora whanau
My name is Matt Goodwin. Although I have been teaching for a few years now, this is my first year teaching at Vogeltown School. I am excited to be a part of the Paetoki team, where I will be working out of Room 9 with Year 5 & 6 students.
I really enjoy developing the students’ skills while having fun along the way. I am passionate about sport - you can often find me at different sporting events as a spectator. I can be easily found following the Spotswood United Rugby teams in the winter months, and at East End Beach in the summer months watching my children participate in Surf Lifesaving skills.
I am really looking forward to being a part of your child’s learning journey for 2023.

Rachel Pretty – Room 10

Teaching has been a late but very rewarding career choice for me. I started at Coastal Taranaki School in 2005, which was a great experience as it was a brand new school. After a few years at Coastal, I got a job at Vogeltown. I am very privileged to work with such a supportive team. They are dedicated, professional teachers with the students best interests at heart.
I am also lucky enough to have had my daughter attend. I offer a safe learning environment where children are encouraged to have a go through different experiences. I believe if a child has confidence, they will succeed. All children deserve the best and that is what they get at Vogeltown School.

Dayna Lewis – Room 11

Kia ora, my name is Dayna Lewis and this is my second year teaching at Vogeltown School. I am very excited to be in Room 16 with Year 4 and 5 tamariki in the Paetoki team. Over the years I have spent some time working in marketing and events and have enjoyed living abroad. Having lived in Taranaki for the majority of my life, it is great to be back home and I am enjoying my time at Vogeltown School. I am a big lover of the outdoors where you will find me making the most of our fantastic region over the weekend!
I am excited to work alongside tamariki and their whānau to ensure everyone experiences confidence and success in a positive learning environment. Really looking forward to what the year will bring.

Nathan Ransfield – Room 12 – Associate Principal & Paetoki Team Leader (DP)

Nathan Ransfield - Room 12 - Associate Principal & Paetoki Team Leader
Kia ora whānau, I’m Nathan Ransfield. I have been a primary school teacher for the past 17 years. I have been teaching at Vogeltown for 8 of those years and have loved every minute here. I am the leader of the Paetoki Syndicate and have an amazing team that I get to work with every day!
I have three beautiful children; Tai is 11, Taya is 8 and Tovah is 2. Tai and Taya are currently at Vogeltown School and absolutely love it here. I have a wonderful partner Peta, who is also involved with Vogeltown School, being a member of the Board of Trustees.

Dani Melody – Room 13

Kia ora, I am Dani Melody, I am in Room 13 with Year 3 and 4 kids this year. I am originally from the Hawke’s Bay but moved to New Plymouth, where I started my teaching career at an intermediate school. I then had my two beautiful kids and worked as a relief teacher across all age levels, at Vogeltown School.
I love being a mum and all the adventures life has to offer. I like exercising and getting outdoors to enjoy the beautiful Taranaki landscape.
Vogeltown has such a warm and welcoming feel to it. I feel lucky to be working here and I am really looking forward to the year ahead!

Cam Hedley – Room 14

Kia ora whānauI am Cam Hedley and I’m very excited to begin my teaching career at Vogeltown School, working in Room 14 with Year 3 and 4 ākonga. I have recently completed my Graduate Diploma of Teaching, studying extramurally so I could continue to enjoy the beautiful Taranaki region and spend time with my whānau. On the weekends you can find me either
enjoying the outdoors, going for a surf or curling up with a good book. I am looking forward to providing a classroom environment where tamariki feel a sense of belonging and take pride in their learning. I believe this begins with building positive relationships within the classroom and instilling confidence in ākonga so they can enjoy their educational journey. I love the welcoming, vibrant feel that Vogeltown has, and being an ex-Vogeltowner myself, it
just felt like whānau all over again. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to teach Vogeltown tamariki and am excited for the year ahead!
Ngā mihi
Cam

Mike George – Room 15 – Deputy Principal & Huatoki Team Leader

Kia Ora Vogeltown whanau.

I am married to Kathryn and we have 3 wonderful daughters, Sarah 28, Laura 26 and Sophie is 24. I love everything about Vogeltown School and have been a teacher here for the past 15 years. I have taught in the junior, middle and senior areas at Vogeltown. Before completing my teaching degree I was a Bank Manager with TSB. I am the Huatoki team leader and Deputy Principal, responsible for taking some of the pressure off Mr Ogle and helping out where needed. Pop in and say gidday!

Brent Bishop – Room 16

Kia ora, my name is Brent Bishop. I completed my Bachelor of Teaching degree at the University of Waikato and am very excited to be part of the Vogeltown community. My partner and I are both from New Plymouth and we love raising our daughters in this amazing place, Taranaki.
I am very passionate about the outdoors and all sports. Cricket and rugby have been two sports in which I have spent a lot of my time playing and coaching in.
I strive to promote self-belief and teamwork and think these skills are hugely important in ensuring children are engaged and encouraged to become lifelong learners.

Jeremy Ogle – Principal

Kia ora whānau, I am proud and honoured to be the Principal here at Vogeltown School. I spent 11 years as Deputy Principal at Highlands Intermediate and it is great to now be in a primary school, which is where I started my teaching career.
I grew up in Hawera where both my parents were teachers. They both continue to educate people with their wonderful Tawhiti Museum, which aims to ‘bring history back to life’ through modelling, dioramas and ‘kid friendly’ stories of yesteryear. My wife is a teacher too, so I guess teaching is definitely in the blood!
I love our school vision of ‘care for the land, care for the people, go forward’ and model this each day through interactions with kids, staff and community. My door is always open if you want a chat, or come out and have a kick around with the kids at lunchtime on the field!
Vogeltown has a history of being a great school with great kids and awesome teachers. This will continue while I am here and we will continue to do things the Vogeltown Way.
Ka kite anō.

Laura Seed – Associate Principal & Across School Teacher COL lead

I am a Taranaki girl, having lived here all of my life. My family is very sporty and you will often see myself, my husband and our 3 children out and about at various sporting arenas.
My teaching career began at Vogeltown School 11 years ago and I have been lucky enough to teach students in the senior and middle school.
Vogeltown has such a warm and friendly vibe and I love to reflect this in my classroom, aiming to always have the walls full with my students’ bright and colourful learning.