15 Makora Road, Otaihanga, PARAPARAUMU 5036
027 4455661 • aitkens1@gmail.com
A dedicated and passionate education professional with extensive experience in a broad range of settings and contexts, and proven leadership and creative qualities.
PROFESSIONAL GOALS
To apply my creative, education and managerial experience to:
• Creative, challenging and new experiences
• being an excellent educational leader who builds the pedagogical, administrative and cultural conditions necessary for successful learning and teaching;
• using my educational leadership and management skills in ways that will motivate and develop the capabilities of others in a shared vision for constant improvement;
• building effective relationships, setting collective strategic goals enhancing teaching and learning, and obtaining and managing the resources needed to achieve those goals;
• embracing the special obligations, opportunities, challenges and responsibilities that education leadership brings to the school community;
• continuing to learn.
CAREER SUMMARY
2022- Relief Teacher
2013-2021 Head of Digital Technologies and Digital Media, Director ICT and School Network, Relief Coordinator, Ōtaki College.
2012-2020 Chairperson National Youth Drama School
2008-2013 Manager Creative Technology Capital E for Children, Wellington
2001-2008 Teacher Intermediate Havelock North Intermediate School
2000 Teacher Drama, English Havelock North High School
1996-1999 Teacher Music, Drama, English Kuranui College, Greytown
1995 Teacher Music, English, Reading Chanel College, Masterton
1993-1994 Teacher Intermediate Chanel College Intermediate, Masterton
1990-1992 Mime Artist Performers in Schools New Zealand and International
1988-1989 Teacher Junior School Cornwall Street School, Masterton
1990-2001 Massey University Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) (B.A.)
1988-1989 Cornwall Street School, Masterton Trained Teachers’ Certificate (TTC)
1985-1987 Wellington College of Education Diploma of teaching (Dip. Tch)
1984 Victoria University of Wellington BA (Music) transferred to BA (Hum)
1979-1983 Upper Hutt College School Certificate, UE, Bursary
PADI diver’s certificate
Boat Master certificate NZ Coastguard
Head of Department, Director ICTS, Commodore Otaihanga Boating Club.
Creative Technology Manager Capital E for Children, Wellington
Chairman NZ National Youth Drama School
2001-2007 Specialist digital technology teacher Havelock North Intermediate School
Head of ICT
Teacher in charge of Performing Arts
2000 Head of Drama Havelock North High School
1996-1999 Head of Music Kuranui College, Greytown
1995 Teacher in charge of Music Chanel College, Masterton
Also Captain of 25 foot yacht
Years 7 - 13 Digital Technologies department (computing and digital media)
2008-2013 Manager Creative Technology Capital E for Children, Wellington
2001-2008 Teacher Intermediate Havelock North Intermediate School
2000 Teacher Drama, English Havelock North High School
1996-1999 Teacher Music, Drama, English Kuranui College, Greytown
1995 Teacher Music, English, Reading Chanel College, Masterton
1993-1994 Teacher Intermediate Chanel College Intermediate, Masterton
1990-1992 Mime Artist Performers in Schools New Zealand and International
1988-1989 Teacher Junior School Cornwall Street School, Masterton
QUALIFICATIONS
Massey University MA in education (continuing)1990-2001 Massey University Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) (B.A.)
1988-1989 Cornwall Street School, Masterton Trained Teachers’ Certificate (TTC)
1985-1987 Wellington College of Education Diploma of teaching (Dip. Tch)
1984 Victoria University of Wellington BA (Music) transferred to BA (Hum)
1979-1983 Upper Hutt College School Certificate, UE, Bursary
PADI diver’s certificate
Boat Master certificate NZ Coastguard
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Head of Department, Director ICTS, Commodore Otaihanga Boating Club.
Creative Technology Manager Capital E for Children, Wellington
Chairman NZ National Youth Drama School
2001-2007 Specialist digital technology teacher Havelock North Intermediate School
Head of ICT
Teacher in charge of Performing Arts
2000 Head of Drama Havelock North High School
1996-1999 Head of Music Kuranui College, Greytown
1995 Teacher in charge of Music Chanel College, Masterton
Also Captain of 25 foot yacht
SPECIFIC TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Years 7 - 13 Digital Technologies department (computing and digital media)
Contract with Waka Kotahi and Fletchers Construction for student production of monthly updates on Kapiti Peke Peka to Ōtaki Expressway (LINK)
Digital Technologies implementation strategy
Management of school ICT networking
Current Integrative Inquiry Learning Programmes Capital E for Children
Television broadcasting OnTV Studio, Capital E for Children
2D & 3D Animation Soundhouse, Capital E for Children
2D & 3D Game Design
Music Production
Soundtrack Design
Digital Storytelling
Android App Creation
Capital Connections Collaboration Wellington Museums Trust
2001-2007 Specialist Digital Technology Years 7 - 8 Havelock North Intermediate School
Music Years 7 - 8
Drama Years 7 - 8
Te Reo Maori Years 7 - 8
Thinking Skills/Problem Solving Years 7 - 8
Numeracy Project
2000 Drama Years 9 – 13 Havelock North High School
English Years 9 – 10
Barbershop
Theatresports
1993-2006 Mime teacher Years 11 - 13 NZ National Youth Drama School
Video documentary teacher Years 11 - 13
Animation teacher Years 11 - 13
1996-1999 Musical Director major productions Kuranui College, Greytown
Guitar, Piano, Rock Band tutor
English Years 9 - 12
1993-1995 Intermediate Classroom Teacher Chanel College, Masterton
English Years 9 – 11
Music Years 9 – 10
Guitar, Piano, Rock Band tutor
Director major production
Theatresports
Language Improvement Programme
Reading Recovery
1990-1992 Day reliever Years 1 - 13 Primary and secondary schools
1984-1992 Mime workshops for children Schools in NZ & Internationally
Death and Diversity documentary for the Museum of Wellington City & Sea that was awarded a New Zealand Diversity Award by the Race Relations Commissioner, also a finalist in the New Zealand Museums Awards 2012 for Exhibition Excellence
Rugby World Cup green screen interactive
Pride Awards finalists documentaries
Giggles television series in partnership with Gibson Group and TVNZ
Artist documentaries of Regan Gentry, Gerda Leenards, Bill Toomath for City Gallery Wellington
Astronomy documentary of Peter Read for Carter Observatory
Promotional videos for Carter Observatory, Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Capital E National Theatre for Children, Capital E Creative Technology
Refugee Stories project
Flying Deckchair, Holograms, Magic Mask Booth, Virtual Gaming Adventures interactives
National Youth Drama School annual video documentaries
Dance Express annual showcases
Police Road Safety video resource
48 Hours Film Competition
National Digital Forum, Collaborative Educational Platforms, Te Papa
Ministry of Education regional symposium. Building in-school capabilities so that gifted and talented children, particularly Maori and Pasifika children in low socioeconomic or rural areas are nurtured at primary and secondary level. Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson.
United Nations Association New Zealand Conference: Reconciliation. Children telling stories through the Refugee Stories Interactive Online Video Project. The Beehive, Parliament
Collaborations with the NZ National Theatre for Children touring theatre productions of Kiaora Khalid and Magnolia Street
Giggles Live theatre production with TVNZ
Mime Artist touring throughout New Zealand and internationally
Lord of the Rings, Frighteners, Television commercials
Music Technology Specialist
Piano, flute, guitar, voice
School orchestra director
School choir director
Whole school singing leader
Music technology
Bay City Barbershop Chorus
Upper Hutt Youth Orchestra
NZEI, 1988-1994, 2000 - 2008
PPTA 1995 - 1999
Napier Sailing Club 2000 - 2007
Heretaunga Yacht Club 1983
Paremata Boating Club 1977 - 1982
Beautiful wife Deborah, a successful primary school teacher
Ben (1988)
Sam (1990) and
Jasmine (1994)
Sailing
Diving
Canoe Polo Coach
Walking our two Labradors
Television broadcasting OnTV Studio, Capital E for Children
2D & 3D Animation Soundhouse, Capital E for Children
2D & 3D Game Design
Music Production
Soundtrack Design
Digital Storytelling
Android App Creation
Capital Connections Collaboration Wellington Museums Trust
2001-2007 Specialist Digital Technology Years 7 - 8 Havelock North Intermediate School
Music Years 7 - 8
Drama Years 7 - 8
Te Reo Maori Years 7 - 8
Thinking Skills/Problem Solving Years 7 - 8
Numeracy Project
2000 Drama Years 9 – 13 Havelock North High School
English Years 9 – 10
Barbershop
Theatresports
1993-2006 Mime teacher Years 11 - 13 NZ National Youth Drama School
Video documentary teacher Years 11 - 13
Animation teacher Years 11 - 13
1996-1999 Musical Director major productions Kuranui College, Greytown
Guitar, Piano, Rock Band tutor
English Years 9 - 12
1993-1995 Intermediate Classroom Teacher Chanel College, Masterton
English Years 9 – 11
Music Years 9 – 10
Guitar, Piano, Rock Band tutor
Director major production
Theatresports
Language Improvement Programme
Reading Recovery
1990-1992 Day reliever Years 1 - 13 Primary and secondary schools
1984-1992 Mime workshops for children Schools in NZ & Internationally
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Video production
Death and Diversity documentary for the Museum of Wellington City & Sea that was awarded a New Zealand Diversity Award by the Race Relations Commissioner, also a finalist in the New Zealand Museums Awards 2012 for Exhibition Excellence
Rugby World Cup green screen interactive
Pride Awards finalists documentaries
Giggles television series in partnership with Gibson Group and TVNZ
Artist documentaries of Regan Gentry, Gerda Leenards, Bill Toomath for City Gallery Wellington
Astronomy documentary of Peter Read for Carter Observatory
Promotional videos for Carter Observatory, Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Capital E National Theatre for Children, Capital E Creative Technology
Refugee Stories project
Flying Deckchair, Holograms, Magic Mask Booth, Virtual Gaming Adventures interactives
National Youth Drama School annual video documentaries
Dance Express annual showcases
Police Road Safety video resource
48 Hours Film Competition
Presentations
National Digital Forum, Collaborative Educational Platforms, Te Papa
Ministry of Education regional symposium. Building in-school capabilities so that gifted and talented children, particularly Maori and Pasifika children in low socioeconomic or rural areas are nurtured at primary and secondary level. Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson.
United Nations Association New Zealand Conference: Reconciliation. Children telling stories through the Refugee Stories Interactive Online Video Project. The Beehive, Parliament
Drama
Collaborations with the NZ National Theatre for Children touring theatre productions of Kiaora Khalid and Magnolia Street
Giggles Live theatre production with TVNZ
Mime Artist touring throughout New Zealand and internationally
Lord of the Rings, Frighteners, Television commercials
Music
Music Technology Specialist
Piano, flute, guitar, voice
School orchestra director
School choir director
Whole school singing leader
Music technology
Bay City Barbershop Chorus
Upper Hutt Youth Orchestra
Memberships
NZEI, 1988-1994, 2000 - 2008
PPTA 1995 - 1999
Napier Sailing Club 2000 - 2007
Heretaunga Yacht Club 1983
Paremata Boating Club 1977 - 1982
Family
Beautiful wife Deborah, a successful primary school teacher
Ben (1988)
Sam (1990) and
Jasmine (1994)
Activities
Sailing
Diving
Canoe Polo Coach
Walking our two Labradors
Nāu te rourou
Nāku te rourou
Ka ora ai te iwi