Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees 2023
As with all state-funded, or integrated schools, Tauranga Waldorf School is governed by an elected body of parent and teacher representatives.
The Board also consists of appointees of our Proprietors, The Waldorf Schools (Bay of Plenty) Trust and the Principal. The Board meets at least 8 times during a school year, gathering around the board table in the staffroom to hear and discuss reports from the Principal, the Proprietors and various management groups within the school.
The Board’s responsibilities are clearly defined by the Ministry of Education which also provides excellent training for new members.
For more information regarding the role of the Board of Trustees, visit the Ministry of Education’s website: www.minedu.govt.nz
Links & Downloads
Board Minutes
MEL AULD
Elected Parent Rep and Chair of the Board of Trustees
My husband, Bran, and I have been part of the Tauranga Waldorf community since 2012 with our two sons thriving at the kindergarten then school. I have a background in marketing and communications and was co-opted onto the Board in 2018, becoming Chair in 2022.
I want to continue to learn about and contribute to a community that is developing free-willed, creative, smart, compassionate and resilient young people – an education that I see as quite unique, very special and deserving of my time as a parent and community member.
EDDIE WALL
Elected Parent Rep
I’m Eddie Wall and I’ve been a parent in the school community for the last 6 and a half years. Before that we were already connected to the Waldorf movement in that my eldest who is now at college and attended Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten in the United Kingdom and I was involved with the Acorn Steiner School where I taught a Physics main lesson to the upper school and took part in outdoor education with senior students. This included adventure camps, teaching sailing, skiing trips and driving a mini bus on their 3 week Europe, 3 times.
My youngest is now in Class 5 so I feel I’ve got a reasonable experience of the Tauranga Waldorf Learning Journey under my belt over the last years. I’ve sung in the Kings Play, been a parent help on several camps- most recently to Waikaremoana, supplied bike racks, and have supported some of the fit out in the Outdoor classroom.
I’m happy to be a parent representative on the Tauranga Waldorf School board of Trustees to help to continue to provide strong governance of a school, that I, my wife and my children all really value and love.
SARAH LOCKWOOD
Elected Parent Rep
Kia ora,
My husband Simon and I feel very grateful that our three sons Wilson, Ned and Franklin have access to such wonderful kaiako and educational settings through their Waldorf education.
I work as a university lecturer and researcher, and provide consulting services to organisations and businesses in areas of organisational communication, community engagement, and crisis response.
I continue to be inspired by the kaupapa of our school and feel privileged to have been able to invest my time and abilities for our children and the wider community by serving on the board of trustees since 2018.
‘Ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa’ – The child – the heart of the matter.
MARK HEYWARD
Elected Parent Rep
STEPHEN STRAUGHAN
Elected Parent Rep
MICHAEL RALL
Staff Rep
I am currently the school’s staff representative and would like to continue to serve my colleagues in this capacity.
I am part of Senior management and believe I can make a valuable contribution to the BOT in their decisions making process.
I deliver regular reports to the BOT and it is useful for me to speak to these at Board meetings and clarify any uncertainties.
MARY TAIT-JAMIESON
Principal
I came to Tauranga Waldorf School from Waikato Waldorf School where I was a founding parent and teacher. I joined Tauranga Waldorf School in 2006 as a Class teacher and Deputy Principal, becoming Principal in 2008.
LOUISE GAWN
Proprietor’s Rep
Louise is the Proprietors Representative for the Waldorf Schools (BOP) Trust.
All three of her children attended Tauranga Waldorf School from Kindergarten to Class 7. Louise has been employed by the Trust since 2008 although her association with the school goes back to 1988 when her first child enrolled in the kindergarten. Louise’s depth of knowledge is varied and deep and she plays an enormous role in organising and setting up school festivals, plays and the annual school fair and open day.
STEPHEN LANE
Proprietor’s Rep
Stephen started as a parent within the school in 1995, graduating onto the inaugural Board of Trustees and becoming the Chairperson. Stephen then joined the Waldorf Schools Trust (the Proprietor). Stephen truly believes in the value of Waldorf Education and supporting the continual delivery of this Art of Teaching to the environment and community.
