Donna has over 17 years of teaching in the primary sector, in a range of year levels. She began her career as a teacher in the Porirua and Kapiti regions, before relocating to the Bay of Plenty. She has taught a range of ages and has enjoyed being part of the learning and developmental journeys of ākonga at different levels and stages. Donna brings her wealth of experience, both past and current, to the Primary Teacher Education programme at BTI.

Donna’s expertise is in literacy, numeracy, and she enjoys the performing arts. Donna has held several leadership roles including curriculum management of mathematics, the arts, and learning through play. Donna has recently completed her Master of Education degree, with a focus on Play-based Learning and Literacy. She is passionate about seeing ākonga engage in learning through meaningful and practical avenues, and loves to mentor and encourage kaiako to be the best they can.

In her spare time, Donna enjoys spending time, either in person or digitally, with whānau and her growing number of mokopuna, as well as working on creative projects, walking and hiking to embrace the outdoors, and reading.

MEd dissertation: “Engaging Year 3 and 4 Students in Writing Through Play-based Learning” (2020)

Donna is keen to undertake further research in the field of education.

• Teaching and learning in the primary classroom
• Effective teaching of Literacy and Mathematics through a range of pedagogies
• Differentiation of learning for students of varying abilities and needs
• Digital learning in the classroom
• Curriculum integration with Inquiry learning foci
• TIC Mathematics and ALIM project
• DMIC – Mathematics lead in school
• TIC choir, and dance in school
• Building of relationships and mentoring

Donna has presented at learning through play conferences (2021, 2022): “Introducing Learning Through Play in the Senior School”