Ken Allan

Educated in Edinburgh, Scotland - Ken taught Senior Chemistry in an Edinburgh school before coming to New Zealand. He then taught Senior Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics in Wellington secondary schools - worked as business computer trainer - taught Senior Physics at The Correspondence School, and is now teaching Senior Chemistry.
He enjoys family life, nature, teaching science, playing and listening to music, writing poetry, designing and writing science teaching programs for The Correspondence School.

"Coffee - the best meal of the day'

Brian Busby

London-born, I trained to teach in the mid sixties (yes, I do remember them). I came to New Zealand in 1978 with my family, lived in Wanganui and taught at the Girls' College. We moved to Wellington in 1986 and I came to Correspondence School. I've taught Science and Chemistry here, and been involved in course writing, radio, live TV, and audio and video production. I left in 1999 for private industry, then came back full-time in 2005.
I'm married, with two grown-up sons. One works in IT in England. The other is an engineer at Radio New Zealand, but is travelling in South America, the USA and Canada at present. My wife runs her own business.

We’ve been doing up our house and garden since 2001. There’s still lots to do, and if we ever finish, we'll have to sell up! When we’re not painting and digging, we like to read, travel, go to the theatre and the movies, and watch television.

Dave Callaghan

Hi. I'm pretty busy with 3 young kids, but when I can I enjoy two rather extremes in sports mountain biking and lawn bowls.

Barry Jackson

I am new at the Correspondence School after teaching in three NZ schools in Wellington and the South Island and more recently an international high school in Thailand.

My wife and I have two children, one at university and the other still at high school.

I love teaching Biology because it gives me a chance to get outdoors and to find reasons for the things we observe and the best part of science teaching for me has always been helping students with their projects where they get a chance to discover new things for themselves. Have you ever found a liverwort or a tardigrade??

In my spare time I enjoy fishing, gardening and home maintenance (that comes with owning an old house!) and church activities.

Tish Glasson

Joined TCS in 2003. Have had lots of contact with the school before this as a supervisor of Secondary Dual students, and have friends in the Otago back-blocks who have been in the school.

Call Queenstown home, and so have lots of interests in the outdoors. I'm a mad keen skier, do a bit of tramping and have a Commercial Pilot's Licence. I used to fly into Milford when I was at Fiordland College.

I have been involved in Mountain Safety for many years.

I taught overseas in Brunei Dar es Salaam, Borneo, where I did a lot of scuba diving.

Grew up in Otago and Graduated from Otago University. Have taught in two big high schools and a number of rural high schools.

Leon Goldsmith

Hi there!!
The photo is of me patting a cheetah at a wildlife conservatory in South Africa. Some of you may also know that Iam involved in organising and sometimes running of special student events and making sure that our senior students have a chance to go on Spirit of New Zealand voyages I like sailing, also skiing and travel. I am married, and my lovely wife Amanda comes from South Africa. She trains young New Zealanders to become successful athletes

Dave Jackson

Hi,
I teach science and agriculture. I live on a small farm north of Wellington with my wife. Our three children have all left home. My interests are in the outdoors: tramping, climbing, photography, outdoor education and of course farming.

Dorothy Kane

I started teaching at TCS in 1985 and teach Physics, Chemistry and Science. Previous to that I have taught in New Zealand secondary schools and Wellington Polytechnic. I have also taught for the NZ Fire Service - aspects of chemistry and physics necessary for fire fighting and chemical hazard control.
My qualifications include BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Canterbury University and a Diploma in Teaching.
I live in Wellington and have two daughters in their twenties - one is a landscape designer, the other is training to be a doctor.. My husband works as an IT manager.
My interests include gardening and photography. I have spent time travelling in Europe, Scandinavia, UK, USA,,India, Nepal, Thailand and South America.
For recreation my family and I enjoy orienteering, tramping, mountain-biking and skiing. I've climbed a few mountains in my time including Mts. Cook, Sefton, Aspiring, La Perouse, also Mt Blanc and the Matterhorn in Europe. Orienteering is my passion now and I've competed in three World Masters events.
My best achievement has been to win the Veteran Women's class at the World Rogaine (24 hour orienteering event) Champs in 2000.

Don Laing

Hi I'm Don Laing, senior Teacher, Biology. I've taught at the School for many (undisclosed number !) years and have lots of experience at writing resources for science, biology and horticulture. Special subject interest are in the behaviour and ecology of small animals. This has included doing research on spiders such as the local tunnelweb and wasps. Currently I'm enjoying developing CD-ROM teaching units for biology and science. My interests are music - including a collection of vintage 78 records (ask your grandparents what they are); photography, particularly via my home computer and a photo-quality printer; dancing everything from ballroom and Latin American to rock and roll and keeping fit with a mixture of running, walking and exercises. My school activities included being a staff rep on the Board of trustees for 4 years. I enjoy living in Newtown, Wellington in an 1891 house which is shared with cat Danu and usually a son or two

Claire Neiman

Hello, I've specialised in teaching agriculture and horticulture for many years, mainly teaching in the South Island. I now live in Wellington with my husband, two sons and various pets. One of my main interests is propagating all types of plants and growing them, especially those that are a bit of a challenge

John Nisbet (acting HOD)

I have been teaching Agriculture and Hoticulture for several years. It is a great subject to teach and I enjoy communicating with my students. I have always liked dogs and working stock with my heading dog, Kate. It is great fun. In my spare time I run, kayak and enjoy touring on my motorcycle. I am married and have two daughters.

Keith Overend

My interests include; tramping, photography, planes and trains (real and model), gardening and music (classical, mainly, sorry!). My wife is a nurse. We are involved in various ways with our church. We have 4 sons. One is in Canada who, with his wife, own and run a tourist resort. Another is a pilot in Papua New Guinea. The third is a meat inspector after having various other jobs and the youngest is a motor mechanic apprentice. We had an excellent holiday with all our boys, for Christmas and with my mother in Christchurch. My wife and I had a wonderful time on the Banks Peninsula Track, Stewart Island, at Milford Sound and on the Kepler track (between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri).

Greg Preston

I come from a dairy farming background. I have enjoyed working in a range of horticulture and agriculture businesses. My particular interests are in Jersey dairy cows and Murray Grey cattle.

Sylvia Ruarus

Kia ora,

I grew up in the Netherlands where I gained a Master of Science in Conservation Ecology. When I came to New Zealand more than 20 years ago I was very lucky to be offered conservation work on Kapiti Island. I have also taught at a number of secondary schools and worked as a policy analyst for central government. I joined the Correspondence School as a permanent, part-time teacher of Science and Biology in February 2005.

My partner works for the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society. Together we have 2 children. Our son has just started high school and our daughter is still at primary. As a family we love tramping, reading and spending time at home in our garden.

I love teaching and am particularly fond of subjects like genetics, ecology and biochemistry. However, for me, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a teacher is to help students meet their aspirations and achieve well.

Anil Singh

Prior to coming to the Correspondence School I have taught science, biology and chemistry in South Canterbury and Central Otago over the last 26 years.
I have also been a sharemilker for almost five years .
I enjoy sailing and playing golf as well as tramping.
I teach biology and science at the Correspondence school.

Wendy Talbot-Aspin

Wendy Talbot-Aspin
I am a part- time teacher at The Correspondence School and teach a mixture of science, horticulture and agriculture.
In any spare time I like to keep fit by running, mountain biking, gardening and enjoy the outdoors.
I also enjoy following our kids (13 and 11) many sporting interests.
wendy.talbot-aspin@correspondence.school.nz