Our valued Educators and Members
Teachers shape minds, inspire growth, and empower our ākonga to reach their fullest potential.
OUR STAFF
Mrs Molly Fletcher
Principal
Principal Molly Fletcher
I’ve spent over 20 years working in education, and I’m as passionate about it now as I was when I first began. My journey has included postgraduate study in both Mathematics and Educational Leadership, which has given me a solid foundation to lead curriculum development, support student initiatives, and design meaningful learning experiences.
I’ve had the privilege of leading a wide range of programs—from curriculum innovation to Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) events—and I’m especially passionate about building strong connections between school and the wider community. For me, education is about more than just outcomes; it’s about creating environments where students feel engaged, inspired, and supported to thrive.
I believe in the power of evidence-based teaching and learning, but I also love the “fun stuff” that makes school memorable—whether that’s through the Arts, Sports, or Sciences. I’m always looking for ways to strike that balance in everything I do.
At home, I’m a proud mum to two teenage daughters. I’m lucky to have a wonderfully supportive husband and a lively dog named Lola who keeps us all on our toes. In my spare time, I enjoy pottery, and I’ve recently taken up rollerblading—because it’s never too late to try something new!
Mrs Morgan Jurisich
Deputy Principal
Mrs Morgan Jurisich
Tēnā Koutou katoa, Ko Morgan Jurisich Tōku ingoa. I am humbled and honoured to be one of the Deputy Principals at our incredible kura. I began my career here at Ponsonby Primary School as a beginning teacher which helped to shape me into the educator I am today. I spent a couple of years teaching in the far south of Te Waipounamu before making my way back to Ponsonby where I have been ever since, because once you are a part of the Ponsonby Whānau, you are always a part of the whānau. I am passionate about creating an environment for our ākonga where they find joy in coming to school each day. A place where their wellbeing is nurtured, their minds are encouraged to explore endless creative opportunities and find innovative solutions to problems that affect their lives. Most importantly, I want to help our tamariki to flourish by supporting them to reach their fullest potential. Outside of School, I love spending time with my family and two cats Te Pepi and Blinky Bill and relaxing at the beach.
Mr Arran Connor
Deputy Principal
Mr Arran Connor
Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Arran Connor tōku ingoa. I am the Deputy Principal of Ponsonby Primary School.
I grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau, and I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School for 8 years. I began my teaching career here as a beginning teacher and taught across Year 5 and 6, before stepping into this role in 2024.
My passion in life is ensuring that our tamariki absolutely love coming to school to learn. I find it so rewarding to help provide amazing educational opportunities for our ākonga in an environment that is inclusive, supportive, and fun!
My favourite thing about Ponsonby Primary School is the warm and welcoming family atmosphere. All the teachers and staff are one big whānau that supports one another, and that feeling of aroha flows through to the students and the families of this wonderful community.
Outside of work, I ride the emotional rollercoaster that is being a huge Warriors fan. I love watching and playing sports of all varieties, and of course proudly represent the Ponsonby Primary School staff netball team! I’m also an avid reader and film watcher, and love spending time outdoors and getting in the water.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ms Julia Nissen
Senco | Year 4
Ms Julia Nissen
Kia ora! My name is Julia Nissen, and I am the Special Educational Needs Coordinator here at Ponsonby Primary School as well as a Year 4 teacher.
I am originally from Thames, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for 8 years.
I love teaching because I get to see how excited students are when they learn something new and get to share it with their friends and family.
The thing I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is that it is an inclusive and close-knit community right in the heart of the city.
Outside of work, I enjoy relaxing with my family in Mangawhai. I also have 3 kids, 4 chickens, 2 cats and 8 fish to keep me busy!!
Ms Miriam Harford
AP/Team Leader of Kakariki Syndicate Y1-2 | Year 1
Miriam Harford
Kia ora! My name is Miriam Harford, and I am the Kākāriki Syndicate Leader and a Year 1 teacher.
I am from Dublin, Ireland, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for 13 years.
I love teaching because I get to make a difference each and every day. Those light bulb moments are always special, and being a part of a child’s transition to school is a huge privilege too.
Working with the children in Kākāriki is simply the best. They are cute, curious and wonderful little people, I love my job and all the staff – particularly the Kākāriki teachers. It feels like a home from home working here.
Outside of work, I am mum to twin boys, Ted & Benji. I enjoy swimming, relaxing, and spending time with friends.
Mrs Anja Oliver
AP/Team Leader of Puriri Syndicate Y3-4 | Year 3
Mrs Anja Oliver
Kia ora! My name is Anja Oliver, and I am the Puriri Syndicate Leader and ICT Leader, as well as a Year 3 teacher.
I am Auckland born and bred, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for 18 years!
I love seeing children make connections and having those WOW moments. Kids are just like popcorn. You put a bunch of kernels in a pot. They are all getting the same heat, and they are all getting the same space but each one pops when it’s ready!
The thing I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is the people – the children, staff and parents are all so supportive of each other.
Outside of work, I live with my lovely husband and little poochon called Daphne. She comes into school at times and the kids love reading to her and doing “Daphne Patrol”. I enjoy taking Daphne for walks in Cornwall Park, travelling (especially on cruise ships), and being creative through different crafts.
Mr Sven Cropp
AP/Team Leader of Kowhai Syndicate Y5-6 | Year 6
Mr Sven Cropp
Tēnā koutou. Ko Sven Cropp tōku ingoa. I am the Kōwhai Syndicate Leader and a Year 6 teacher.
I was born in Rotorua and have been teaching for many years, and Ponsonby Primary School in particular since 2024.
The thing I love most about seeing the progress of my learners. I believe in growing great life long learners who are empowered to pursue their dreams!
My favourite thing about Ponsonby Primary School is the sense of community and the kind and caring culture.
Outside of work I have a wife, Amber, who is a primary school teacher as well and taught here at PPS many years ago. I also have two boys – 8 and 10 years old. I love spending time with my family, and I also enjoy watching sports and listening to music.
KOWHAI TEACHERS
Mrs Sarah Vollmer
Year 5
Mrs Sarah Vollmer
Kia ora! My name is Sarah Vollmer, and I am a Year 5 teacher, as well as the Year 5 Local Curriculum Leader.
I grew up and went to school in Auckland, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for four years.
I love inspiring children to follow their passions and be curious about the world around them. In my classroom, we celebrate differences and welcome all students and their family.
I love that Ponsonby Primary School has a close knit community where families are present within the school and teachers have an open door policy.
Outside of work, I love to travel around New Zealand and find hidden gems to explore, whether it be a gorgeous beach or new food spot.
Mr Stephen Bergin
Year 5
Mr Stephen Bergin
Tēnā koutou. Ko Stephen Bergin toku ingoa. I am a Year 5 teacher, as well as the Sports & Physical Education Leader here at Ponsonby Primary School.
I grew up and went to school in Auckland, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for 4 years.
The thing I love most about teaching is the positive impact that you can have on a child’s education, as well as the enthusiasm and energy that children always bring to the classroom. I believe in the importance of empowering children by creating a positive and supportive class environment, where everyone feels respected and valued.
The thing I love most about Ponsonby Primary is the great relationships you can build with families, and the supportive community.
Outside of work, I love anything to do with sports – whether it’s watching my beloved Blues (2024 champions!) or Manchester United, or participating in sports such as football, backyard cricket or triathlon. I also enjoy reading and travelling.
Mr Jay Keshaw
Year 6
Mr Jay Keshaw
Kia ora! My name is Jay Keshaw, and I am a Year 6 teacher and leader of the Year 6 Wellbeing leadership group.
I was born in Auckland and raised in Auckland but have lived overseas for a large part of my life, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for a total of 4 years.
I love seeing the joy and confidence on children’s faces when they accomplish something at school, whether it’s mastering a new skill, solving a challenging problem, or achieving a personal goal. I believe in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where every child feels valued, encouraged, and inspired to reach their full potential by fostering curiosity, resilience, and developing a growth mindset.
What I love the most about Ponsonby Primary school is that from the time that you walk through the gates you feel the warmth and pride within the school. As a teacher it is so nice to be teaching at a school that has such support from our parents whether it be in the form of school trips, fundraisers or celebrations.
Outside of work, I am the father of three beautiful children. I love to spend time with my family exploring New Zealand’s beautiful beaches. I enjoy cooking, especially when it involves the BBQ. I have always enjoyed traveling and learning about different cultures. I enjoy landscape photography when I have a chance to get out by myself.
PURIRI TEACHERS
Mrs Olivia Benge
Year 3
Mrs Olivia Benge
Kia ora! My name is Olivia Benge, and I am the Maths Leader here at Ponsonby Primary School as well as a Year 3 teacher.
I am from Grey Lynn, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for 16 years.
I teach because I want to create a classroom where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to learn, explore, and dream big. Teaching is a journey of learning and growth for both my students and myself, where their questions, ideas, and laughter make every day meaningful.
I love Ponsonby Primary School – the wonderful community, all the amazing teachers who are my friends, the opportunities given to both our students and to us as teachers.
Outside of work, I have two lovely sons and I enjoy hanging out with my boys, going to the beach, reading good books, going out to dinner and watching my kids play sport.
Ms Anne Cowsill
Year 4
Ms Anne Cowsill
Tēnā koutou. Ko Anne Cowsil toku ingoa. I am a Year 4 teacher, as well as the Year 4 Curriculum Leader and Visual Arts Leader.
I am from Grey Lynn, and I have taught at Ponsonby Primary School for a total of 33 years! First from 1988-2003, then again from 2007-now.
The thing I love most about teaching is seeing children’s excitement when they learn new things. I especially love teaching through visual art, and I also love it when the learning is about our amazing country -Aotearoa.
Children need to be given the opportunity to develop at their own pace and to be exposed to different ways of learning. They need to become critical thinkers in this changing world. They also need to be confident about who they are, and be able to think about others when they are learning.
Ponsonby Primary School is a special place because the wonderful children of Ponsonby are at the centre of everything we do. We are like a whānau; everyone – staff and community – working together for the children.
Outside of work, I enjoy walking with my friends, learning te reo Māori, and reading and watching anything to do with Aotearoa’s history.
KOWHAI TEACHERS
Mrs Anna Wylie
Year 1
Mrs Anna Wylie
Hi there, my name is Anna Wylie and I am a Year 1 teacher.
I was born in Lower Hutt and grew up in Lower Hutt, Christchurch and Auckland. I studied at Massey University in Palmerston North so have lived in many places in NZ!
I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School for a number of years. I taught here full time before leaving to have my family. I came back to Ponsonby Primary School as a CRT teacher before coming back into the classroom full time 5 years ago. I have had teaching experience ranging from Yr 0 to Yr 7, with Yr 0/1 being my favourite.
I love working with children. You can’t not smile when working with them. The things they say and do and the way they interpret the world is so insightful. Children amuse me, entertain me and inspire me!
At Ponsonby Primary School, I love our staff. We are all here for the same reason and we all support and encourage each other. We are colleagues but mostly we are friends.
Outside of work, I am married to Jeremy and I have three children of my own, Georgie, Tom and Kate. I also have an adorable dog, Albert. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, travelling and exercise.
Mrs Debbie Fox
Year 1
Mrs Debbie Fox
Hello! My name is Debbie Fox, and I am a Year 1 teacher. I grew up in East Auckland and have lived locally for many years, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School since 2019.
I am a trained SPELD teacher and have a strong interest in literacy, especially reading, and helping children with reading difficulties.
It is such a privilege to help children at the beginning of their school journey, hopefully imparting a love of learning that they will carry with them throughout school and beyond. Young children have such an unfiltered and refreshing view on life – you can’t help but smile!
Someone once said to me that teaching at Ponsonby was like being in a country school in the city. I think this sums up Ponsonby – our school is small enough that we know all of the children, everyone supports each other, we have fun together and we know and enjoy our community.
Outside of work, I am married to Geoff and we have two grown up children Max and Zoe. We also have a beautiful Kelpie named Rufus. I enjoy walking with friends, yoga, cooking for friends and family, and reading.
PART-TIME TEACHERS
Mrs Lynda Hill
Part-time Teacher
Mrs Lynda Hill
Kia ora! My name is Lynda Hill, and I am a classroom release teacher.
I was born in Auckland and grew up in Sandringham, and later moved into Ponsonby as a young teacher, where I remained with my family until we moved in 2002 to South Auckland.
In 1996 our family business started the Inner City Schools Art Programme to support and encourage Visual Art in schools.
My teaching journey with Ponsonby Primary began as a long term reliever many years ago, continued as a reliever and part time release teacher when my children attended as pupils and now sees me releasing teachers for varying reasons during the school week.
The thing I love most about teaching is the children and their learning – the “pearls of wisdom”, the light bulb moments when something falls into place, the hard work that is undertaken and the reward that follows.
I love Ponsonby Primary School because of the sharing and support that is threaded through the staff, our school Values, the programmes and the children – everyone has a place and is encouraged to achieve. There are many opportunities open to all children to find and do their best.
Outside of work, I enjoy riding and keeping my horses fit takes up a great deal of time. To support my fitness for this, I train at the gym three times a week and work on our 4 hectare property in South Auckland managing a small amount of stock and keeping our gardens under control!
Ms Amy Marron
Release Teacher
Ms Amy Marron
Kia ora! My name is Amy Marron, and I am a classroom release teacher.
I’m originally from Norfolk, on the East coast of the UK. I grew up there and lived in Cambridge and London before moving to New Zealand 6 years ago, where I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School ever since.
It’s hugely rewarding to build lasting relationships with students and see them learn, evolve and grow. It’s also fun, creative and every day brings new challenges and magic moments.
What I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is the brilliant students who love learning and the best teaching staff in New Zealand!
Outside of work, I live in Grey Lynn with my husband Tom and our little boy Toby. I enjoy going on outdoor adventures, travelling, reading, running and of course playing for the mighty Ponsonby Primary School staff netball team.
Ms Linnea Maycock
Part-time Teacher
Ms Linnea Maycock
Kia ora! My name is Linnea Maycock, and I am a classroom release teacher.
I am from Northamptonshire, England, and I have been teaching at Ponsonby Primary School since 2024, however prior to this I worked here as a Learning Assistant for 6 years.
The thing I love most about teaching is establishing meaningful connections with students and getting to know them on an individual basis. I love discovering students’ interests and passions and incorporating these into my programme as well as figuring out each child’s individual learning style.
I love the sense of community at Ponsonby Primary School and working with such a great team of staff. I love how the school provides such a wide range of experiences for students, families and staff to partake in.
Outside of work, I enjoy travel, hiking, camping and reading.
TEACHER AIDES
Ms Nancy Elzenaar
Teacher Assistant
Ms Nancy Elzenaar
Kia ora! My name is Nancy Elzenaar, and I am a Learning Assistant. I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School for around 13 years.
Ms Kessia Stevenson
Teacher Assistant
Ms Kessia Stevenson
Kia ora! My name is Kessia Stevenson, and I am a Learning Assistant.
I was born in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and have always lived here, and I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School for around 13 years.
I love seeing the “spark of learning” in children’s eyes, and at Ponsonby Primary School I love the people – the staff, whanau/families and children.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and gardening – I especially love growing flowers and anything creative.
Ms Lisa Searle
Teacher Assistant
Ms Lisa Searle
Hi there! My name is Lisa Searle, and I am a Learning Assistant.
I am from Auckland, and I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School for around 9 years.
I love helping the children and watching them grow and learn, it’s very rewarding. At Ponsonby Primary I love the community spirit within the staff, parents and children.
Outside of work, I am very family orientated and spend time helping with sport. I enjoy Speedway, badminton and baking!
Ms Ebru Kokcu
Learning Assistant
Ms Ebru Kokcu
Kia ora! My name is Ebru Kokcu, and I am a Learning Assistant.
I was born in Auckland and I am half Turkish and half Malaysian-Chinese. I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School since 2024.
What I love most about teaching is the opportunity to inspire and make a positive impact on students’ lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow, discover their potential, and gain new perspectives. The joy of seeing a student grasp a concept they’ve been struggling with or watching their confidence build is truly fulfilling.
What I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is the incredibly positive and supportive environment. The people here are truly wonderful—there’s a genuine sense of teamwork and care among the teachers, staff, and students. It’s a place where everyone feels valued, and the collaboration between colleagues is inspiring.
Outside of work, I come from a family of six which includes my parents, older brother, twin sister (who is older) and my younger sister. We also own a hazelnut farm in Turkey, which has been a big part of our family’s life. I enjoy playing volleyball, going on trips, watching movies, and taking walks or hikes to relax and enjoy nature.
ADMINISTRATION
Mrs Karen Lethbridge
Office Administration
Mrs Karen Lethbridge
Kia ora! My name is Karen Lethbridge, and I am the Office and Enrolment Administrator here at Ponsonby Primary School.
I grew up in Tauranga, and started working at Ponsonby Primary School this year.
What I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is the community and the friendly vibe.
Outside of work I have a husband, daughter and two very demanding Birdoll cats. I enjoy anything to do with the ocean, travel, reading, live music and going on adventures with my family.
Mrs Wendy Steedman
Office Administration and Accounts
Mrs Wendy Steedman
Hi there! My name is Wendy Steedman and I am the Office and Finance Administrator here at Ponsonby Primary School.
I grew up in Taupo and Te Puke, and I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School since 2016.
The thing I love most about Ponsonby Primary School is that it is such a friendly and welcoming place.
Outside of work, I love to read and spend time with my grandchildren.
Mr Roman Thomas
Caretaker
Mr Roman Thomas
Hiya! My name is Roman Thomas and I am the Caretaker here at Ponsonby Primary School.
I am from Parau in West Auckland, and I have been working at Ponsonby Primary School since 2019.
I take care of all the maintenance on the school grounds and make sure that our school looks great and is a place we can be proud of. I love the versatile nature of the job, and the friendly community we have in the school – the school dog is super friendly too!
Outside of work, I enjoy walking with Gecko, listening to music, endlessly watching instagram/tiktok reels, and spending time outdoors in the bush
Gecko
School Pooch
Gecko
Hi there! My name is Gecko, and I am 3 years old. I am a very friendly dog who has been working with Mr Thomas at Ponsonby Primary School for 2 years.
You might see me walking around with Mr Thomas and helping him with all of his caretaker duties. I love people and I’m very gentle, so if you see me come and say hi!
Outside of work, I love going for big walks in nature with Mr Thomas, chasing pigeons and having lots of snacks and snuggles with my friends and family.
