Profiles

Paul Northwood

Not wanting to see an opportunity wasted for the nine Taumarunui schools involved in Community Technicians' project, Paul Northwood has stepped into the breach and is taking over the role. The part-time teacher's hands are already full with teaching reading recovery, ICT lessons and running a homework centre and now the Community Technicians' project, Paul says it will take workload up a notch or two.

"It's a short-term lifestyle change but I want to give it a go as I want to make it work for me and the schools," says Paul.

Devoting at least four hours a day, five days per week, Paul hopes that the short-term strain will be worth the long-term gain.

"Schools need support and I'm hoping I can provide it."
Self-taught, computers have been a hobby for Paul for nearly a decade and with several CISCO papers under his belt, Paul is hoping to cross-credit his papers towards the CPIT diploma.

Paul is looking after Tarrangower School, Kaitieke School, Kirikau School, Manunui School, Ohura School, Owhango School, Turaki School, Taumarunui Primary School and Kakahi School.

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Lucy Hazelwood

Thrown in the deep end but up for the challenge is the Community Technicians project latest recruit, Lucy Hazelwood.

Located in Whatatutu, 35 minutes inland from Gisborne, Lucy says the opportunity to become a community technician is too good to pass up and although a little apprehensive about starting the programme later than everyone else, she is determined to catch up and graduate with the class next year.

“Whatever it takes to make this happen is the attitude I take and I’ll die trying to make it happen,” says Lucy.

Since the beginning of the year Lucy has been working at Te Karaka School looking after its IT needs, which she describes as “fraught.”

Lucy is proud of her single-handed efforts to keep the school’s IT infrastructure ticking over but is looking forward to having the backing of the Community Technicians project.

“I want to feel part of a team and just to get the support I need, will be amazing.”

The ever-positive mother of six says that after having triplets 11 years ago, sorting out the school’s IT issues and catching up on the course will be a relative ‘walk in the park’.

“The triplets are the benchmark for stress; after them I’m prepared for whatever life throws at me.”

Lucy will intially be looking after Te Karaka School but other schools are being approached in the region to join the project

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Richard Milne

Part of Richard Milne’s five year plan was to start his own computer business to service school computers and networks in the Central Plateau region.

The graphic design teacher was looking for a lifestyle change and says he saw an opportunity to do so when computers started turning up at the schools in the area and no technical support was readily available.

Richard’s five year plan was fast-forwarded when the principal of Ruapehu College told him of the Community Technicians project.

“When it came up it’s really what I wanted to do. I’m finding the project really interesting and am enjoying my boosted level of expertise,” says Richard.

Richard is working 10 hours per week as a community technician and says he is busy building relationships with the other cluster schools and expects his hours to increase over the coming months.

While waiting for the extra hours, Richard is supplementing his income by teaching part-time, continuing with his photography business and running a B & B with his wife on their five acre block of land.

Long-term and in keeping with the five year plan, Richard says he will also be the owner/operator of his own computer business once he graduates as a community technician.

Richard’s schools are Ruapehu College, Ohakune Primary School, Raetihi Primary School, Orautoha School, National Park School, Ngamatea School, Pipiriki School, Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Rangi, Rangiwaea School and Waiouru Primary School.

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Clint Deckard

Hawke’s Bay father of two and computer enthusiast, Clint Deckard, became involved with Sherwood School while being a house husband and distance learning through the Open Polytechnic.

“People assumed because I was at home I was sitting around with nothing to do, so I got asked to help out at the school,” says Clint.

At his daughters’ school, Clint maintained and taught students how to use the computers. Shortly before he graduated with a degree in psychology, another school approached Clint and paid him a small fee to look after their computers.

Clint later found himself providing professional development to teachers in an ICTPD cluster in the Central Hawke’s Bay. After the project came to an end, Clint was reading the Education Gazette where he spied the advertisement for the Community Technicians’ project.

“I emailed all of the rural schools in my area and asked who was interested and four were enthusiastic! ”

Clint says it’s a hectic time for him with family and work commitments but it is made easier by having the mutual support from fellow technicians and that his good study habits from his Open Polytechnic days have not deserted him.

In future, Clint would like to build his own business servicing the local community, and imagines that to do it properly he would have to employ another person, but he’ll cross that bridge when he comes to it.

Clint looks after four schools in his cluster, Tikokino School, Sherwood School, Takapau School and Omakere School.

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Tristan Blainey

After returning from his big OE, family drew Tristan Blainey to Dargaville where he found work using his computer skills to help to local schools.

Working also at a local computer shop, Tristan continued to provide technical support to schools. After leaving the shop, Tristan was almost able fill his days working for the schools.

“The schools were more than happy with my work,” says Tristan, but the schools’ were wondering how he could up skill at minimal expense and upheaval, when a teacher from Ruawai College spotted the Community Technicians’ advertisement in the Education Gazette.

“I was all too keen to do it.”

Working approximately 30 hours per week, Tristan says he’s learning interesting and new things and enjoying the role, but rues the fact that his lack of organisation means that Sundays’ are usually devoted to catching up on study.

Eventually, Tristan hopes to open his own business but says there is a lot of competition in the Kaipara area, with a third computer business recently opening. Nonetheless, he sees his future in computers and says that the Community Technicians project will help him towards his goal.

“It’s an excellent opportunity and I am pursuing it fully.”

Tristan looks after Dargaville Primary School, Dargaville High School, Ruawai College, Dargaville Intermediate School, Selwyn Park School and St Joseph’s School.

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William Berryman

When the Reporoa Cluster in the Bay of Plenty was looking for a Community Technician with enthusiasm, commitment and experience in IT and education, they found it, in bucket loads in William Berryman.

 “I’m passionate about education and how IT and computers can advantage children’s learning.  I’ve been involved in paid and voluntary positions in schools for over 10-years and taught children, staff and members of the community computer skills,” says William.

Studying part-time, William has completed a computer studies course, and is delighted to be able to cross-credit some of his papers with the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology’s (CPIT) Diploma in ICT.

“Technology is an ever changing world.  If you don’t continue to maintain your skills you’ll fall behind, so this is a very exciting time for me personally and a great opportunity for these schools to move ahead with their technology knowing that support is there.”

William has already set up his own computer repair business and hopes to capitalise and grow his customer base once he has graduated from the CPIT Diploma in ICT programme, although looking after the schools’ will remain a priority.

William’s schools include Ngakuru School, Waikite School, Lake Rerewhikaatu School, Reporoa Primary School, Reporoa College, Broadland School and Mihi School.

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Emily Glew

Becoming a community technician is another civic activity Opononi resident Emily Glew can add to her resume.  As well as being a volunteer fire-fighter and Lions member, the former school board of trustee member works in Northland’s Opononi Area School as a part-time network computer assistant.

“I was always interested in computers so I took a course and then there was a gap at the school where they needed help,” says Emily.

When the role of community technician came up, Emily jumped at the chance and was delighted to be chosen even if she was a little apprehensive about returning to study.

“I’m nervous and excited as it’s a long time since I sat an exam but I should be fine.”

With a strong interest in network administration, Emily says she is keen to grow her skills in that area and will use the resources available through the project to do so.

Once qualified, Emily hopes to start a small business providing a cost-effective and accessible technical support service to schools and local volunteer organisations in the area.

Emily is looking after five schools in the South Hokianga cluster including Opononi Area School, Rawene Primary, Omanaia Primary, Waima Primary and Te Kura o Whirinaki.

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