Henderson Valley School

Maree Stavert

Principal, Henderson Valley School

“We lived in the Avondale/Blockhouse Bay area but we always thought we lived in the West,” so said Maree, who became principal of Henderson Valley Primary School at the start of the fourth term last year. Although Maree attended New Windsor Primary, Wesley Intermediate and Lynfield College she puts it down to her time at Wesley that focused her life on school teaching. “I had two wonderful years at Wesley Intermediate – those were the years of Johnny Johnson. I had great teachers who inspired me academically and also introduced to me to sports that I have continued to be involved in throughout my life. I decided that I wanted to do for others what my teachers had done for me.” Maree graduated from North Shore Teachers College in the last group of teachers to go through that facility and then her first school was Blockhouse Bay Intermediate. “See, my initial enthusiasm for intermediate – where the dream came from!” After the three years there it was a matter of applying for a job and Maree secured a role teaching years 5 & 6 at Glen Avon Primary, where she taught for another three years. “I loved it there, multicultural and low decile – I started netball on Saturday mornings, especially for the girls – they needed it and they loved it.” After a while the pull back to intermediate loomed and Maree joined Glen Eden Intermediate where she spent the next eighteen years – minus having two children through that time – and she really loved it. “Having been there for a long time I loved its changing character, pupils, staff and openness to new ideas.” For the last ten years Maree was deputy principal. With her commitment to education in West Auckland she started to ponder whether she should stay at GEIS for life or apply for a principal’s role. And then the Henderson Valley Primary School opportunity surfaced. Henderson Valley School commenced in 1915 and it has grown steadily in the last ten to fifteen years. “We’re only 5km from Henderson but we’re rural. We’ve still got cows in the bottom paddock!” “As numerous people congratulated me in securing this position many commented on the excellent reputation and fine tradition the School enjoys.” Maree is married to John and they have two school age children.