An Interview with the Year 9 Deans

Jessie Fauntleroy

What are your areas of teaching expertise and how long have you been a teacher at Ōtūmoetai College?

I studied my Bachelor of Education in Australia, majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Biology. I have been teaching Maths and Stats at Ōtūmoetai College since March 2022, I was on the first flight over when the borders opened! Previously, I have taught Maths, Biology and Physics in both Australia and England.

What were the reasons for you choosing to become a Dean?

Over the past five (and a bit) years of teaching, I have realized the limitations of a classroom teacher in the development and support of students coming through secondary education. Through becoming a Dean, I believe I have a greater capacity to identify and make strategies to meet the needs of the young people at our kura. Without sounding trite, I became a teacher because I had a Year 3 teacher who made me feel valued, smart and like I fit into the world. Although schools are seen as a place to meet academic needs of students, I am adamant that the difference teachers make towards bettering the emotional needs of young people is far more valuable. I want to be a teacher that continues to make a difference, so the Dean position was the most logical step forward for me.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the 2023 Year 9 cohort?

I would love for every single Year 9 student to feel like they have a place in our kura and experience the same sense of belonging I did in Year 3. There is a big jump from intermediate to college, so I am working on supporting students and their whānau with finding ways to meet the new challenges of Ōtūmoetai College. As a side project, I want to build the reputation of a thankful and proud year group that stands strong in our community.

If you could share some valuable wisdom to our Year 9 students as they begin their secondary college journey, what would that advice be?

I can guarantee you, with absolute certainty, that your teachers do not hate you and, actually, they want you to experience the same success that I want you to. The sooner you build the courage to ask for help when you need it, the easier your college journey will be.

Can you tell us something about yourself that students reading this may not know?

My mum was born in Dunedin when my Grandfather was working at one of the universities.

Andrew Rapley

What are your areas of teaching expertise and how long have you been a teacher at Ōtūmoetai College?

My original qualification is in the electrical industry which led to teaching Electronics and Hard materials Technology.

I also have developed expertise in senior Graphics. I started teaching at Ōtūmoetai College in 1996 - do the math! In 2010 I was awarded a Royal Society fellowship to study product design.

What were the reasons for you choosing to become a Dean?

I enjoy being involved with the pastoral care side of young people and feel that I have an empathetic yet firm approach in my interactions with the year group.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the 2023 Year 9 cohort?

That they mature into good citizens that have developed both academic and social skills that will equip them for a successful life after school.

If you could share some valuable wisdom to our Year 9 students as they begin their secondary college journey, what would that advice be?

Be your best self every day

• Go home knowing that you have given it your best shot. We all have different levels of interest and ability and the measure of your best will be different to everyone else, so don’t compare yourself to others, just do your best!

Be kind

• We are all different and you meet a lot of different people every day. Learn to work with people and be tolerant of our differences. Be kind to each other and the school will be a better place.

Be resilient

• Everyone has setbacks. Learn strategies that allow you to keep going forward, even though it seems hard at the time.

Can you tell us something about yourself that students reading this may not know?

I have a wife who works in a dental practice so I have nice white shiny teeth lol! I have two sons, the eldest works in Auckland in construction and the youngest works as a graduate forester in Kaitaia.

I am currently working to restore a 1974 Land Rover, it’s going to be cool as.