Teaching staff

Leadership team

At Houghton Valley School, our leadership team is dedicated to fostering a positive, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every learner can thrive. With a shared commitment to student success, community engagement, and continuous improvement, our leaders bring a wealth of experience, passion, and care to everything they do.

  • PRINCIPAL/TUAMAKI

    principal@houghton.school.nz

    My privilege as the tumuaki is being able to support and inspire our tamariki and kaiako to reach their full potential and to find what makes them passionate about the world around them.

    I get pleasure from reading a good book, travelling and spending time with my whānau.


  • RAKAU ROOPU RANGATIRA / RAKAU TEAM LEADER INQUIRY LEADER - WITHIN SCHOOL LEAD (WSL) FOR OUR KĀHUI AKO

    nina@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 4 / Karaka
    I teach: Year 6

    Over the years I have worked with tamariki from new entrants through to Year 8. I currently have the privilege of teaching our Year 6 ākonga and leading our senior team.  As tauiwi, I continue to deepen my knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori and te reo Māori and sharing this with our kaimahi and ākonga. I enjoy finding new ways to bring creativity into our learning to help inspire tamariki to dream big and reach their full potential. Outside of school time, I enjoy being out in nature, the arts and spending time with friends and whānau.


  • DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (on Maternity leave for 2025)

    My passions sit strongly in the areas of literacy and the arts, and I love to see tamariki feeling successful in their learning. Outside of school, I love to garden, read and hang out with my whānau and my dog Lulu.

Kākano team

The Kākano team at Houghton Valley School is made up of passionate and nurturing teachers who work with our youngest learners in Years 1–3.

"Kākano" means "seed" in te reo Māori, reflecting our belief that these early years are all about planting the foundations for a lifelong love of learning. We focus on building strong relationships, developing key skills through play-based and inquiry learning, and helping each child grow with confidence at their own pace.


  • jill@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 6 / Ti kouka
    I teach: Year 1

    I am kaiako for the amazing five year olds as they begin school. We have been an Enviroschool for many years and it’s great to have Green-Gold recognition for our students, staff and community.

    Outside of school, I have a love of travel and seeing how other cultures experience the world, the great outdoors, skiing, gardening, singing and the arts which I share with my whānau.


  • stephanie@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 8 / Ngaio
    I teach: Years 2/3

    One of my favourite parts of teaching at Te kura o Haewai is spending my days with fabulous tamariki who are excited about their learning, in particular sharing the creative stories they come up with when writing. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy relaxing with a good book and cup of tea, going for walks around Te Whanganui-a- Tara and spending time with whānau.

Rākau team

"Rākau" means "tree" in te reo Māori, symbolising growth, strength, and the deepening of roots – just like the learning journey of our years 4-5 tamariki at this stage.

Our team of dedicated teachers provides a rich and engaging learning environment that encourages independence, critical thinking, and creativity.

We focus on nurturing each child’s unique strengths while fostering collaboration, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging within our school community.


  • lucy@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 9 / Rata
    I teach: Years 4/5

    I am stoked to join the Houghton Valley School community. My teaching philosophy is all about self-confidence, resilience and wellbeing. I love working with kids to unlock their own growth mindsets, communicate clearly, and connect with nature too. In Rātā we'll be bringing learning to life, making it meaningful and FUN! 

    I grew up on a farm in Canterbury. Some hobbies of mine include gardening, trail running, surfing, skiing, fishing, climbing trees, music events and meeting new people.


  • greg@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 10 / Rimu
    I teach: Years 4/5

    I am a passionate learner of Te Reo Māori and have been involved in the inspiring world of kapa haka over the past few years in Whakatū, Nelson. I look forward to sharing this passion with the tauira in my year 4/5 class and continue learning through teaching and exploring Te Ao Māori. I love storytelling and sharing new pūrakau with the kids. I have two amazing tamahine who I spend a lot of time in the water with and love going for runs with my dog Barry. 

Part time teachers

School wide, all year levels


  • jenn@houghton.school.nz

    I teach: In the Kakano Team on Wednesday’s and Friday’s. I’m in Harakeke on a Thursday