Tom has an extensive teaching and learning background spanning 30 plus years in secondary, tertiary, and community education. Most of this time has been in secondary schools where he has held a range of teaching, middle leadership, and senior leadership roles. From 2005 to 2008 Tom worked at the Victoria University School of Education as a school advisor, lecturer and Head of Faculty. Following this he was appointed Principal of Makoura College which in 2014 received the Prime Minister’s Excellence Award for Leadership. In 2015 Tom’s Principal’s Sabbatical was spent studying at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2016 Tom was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

Following principalship Tom worked for the Ministry of Education as a School and Principal Advisor with a special focus on secondary transitions and Māori achievement. Following this and prior to starting with The Education Group Tom worked for local government in the area of community development and education. This included developing and implementing a community education plan and a range of community development initiatives.

Education Qualifications Include

Masters of Arts, Victoria University, Wellington
Bachelor of Arts, Canterbury University
Diploma of Bilingual Teaching, Te Whare Wananga o Raukawa
Diploma of Teaching
Accredited Growth Coaching International Coach

Specialist Interest Areas

Curriculum Design
Mentoring
Leadership
Leadership development
Strategic planning
Organisation culture and change
Working in schools having difficulties
Performance development
Coaching