Management & Office Staff
Sue Coyle
Principal
Sue has been the principal at Piopio Primary since 2021. She enjoys spending time with the tamariki and whānau and takes every opportunity to visit classrooms to see the wonderful teaching and learning happening there. Sue has an open-door policy, so if you need a word or have a question, please pop in and see her.
Maki Havea
Office Manager
Affectionately known as Whaea Maki to our tamariki. Maki started at Piopio Primary in 2023 . Her role means she wears lots of different hats throughout the day - one minute she's answering the phones, the next paying invoices, or creating the newsletter. She's also the first port of call for any playground scrapes, bumps and bruises. Maki enjoys her job and loves watching our children grow.
Senior School
Whaea Linda
Deputy Principal/ Room 5
Ko Mauao me Maungapōhatu ngā Maunga. Ko Tākitimu me Mataatua ngā waka. Ko Tauranga te Moana. Ko Ōhinemataroa te awa. Ko Ngāti Ranginui me Ngāti Awa ngā Iwi. Ko Ngai Tamarawaho me Mahurehure ngā Hapu. Ko Huria me Te Rewarewa ngā Marae. Ko Linda Parata ahau
Whaea Linda has been part of the Piopio Primary School whānau since 2012, teaching across the Junior, Middle and Senior areas of the kura. She currently teaches Year 6 and is also Deputy Principal. She is passionate about supporting every student to be the best they can be.
As Deputy Principal and Team Leader for the Middle and Senior School, Whaea Linda is committed to providing strong leadership and working collaboratively with students, staff, whānau and the wider school community. Her approach is centered on the belief that students are at the heart of all learning. She values student voice and creates opportunities for tamariki to take ownership of their learning, develop a love of learning and become confident, independent learners.
Whaea Linda places a strong focus on assessment for learning, student progress and wellbeing. She works alongside students to identify their next steps, celebrate their successes and support them to recognise themselves as capable learners. She strives to ensure that every student feels valued, included and supported to thrive.
Her leadership responsibilities include PB4L Coach, Te Reo Māori Lead Teacher, Social Sciences Leader, Bus Coordinator, Performing Arts Coordinator and Kapa Haka Tutor. Whaea Linda has a deep passion for te ao Māori and is committed to strengthening the use and understanding of te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori throughout the school. Through her work in social sciences, she supports students to understand their identity, history, place and connections within their local and wider communities.
Through her teaching and leadership, Whaea Linda brings energy, care and enthusiasm to school life. She loves seeing students discover their strengths, share their talents and work together as a positive and connected school community.
Daniel Southam
Room 7
Daniel joined Piopio Primary at the beginning of 2024, bringing a background in education and mental health from Auckland University. He teaches Year 4 in Room 7 as students transition into senior school and is a proud member of Red House. Around the school, he helps organise cross-country, technology initiatives, and charitable events.
Ruth Stokes
Room 6
Ruth joined Piopio Primary in 2022 and currently teaches the year 5 tamariki in room 6. She is involved in organising our whole school cross country, as well as interschool sporting events targeted to our senior students, including orienteering, tackle 5's rugby, rippa rugby, and kī o Rahi. She is also the EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) co-ordinator and helps organise our annual calf club. Ruth loves to build relationships with kids and to see them grow in confidence both in and out of the classroom.
Junior School
Fiona Merrie
Junior school team leader/ Room 4
Fiona joined Piopio Primary School in 2024. She has been teaching since 2005 and has experience working with a diverse range of learners, both in New Zealand and overseas.
Fiona is part of Green House and is involved in PB4L and coordinating the indoor activities for Calf Club. She is excited to be teaching the amazing students in Room 4, working with our Year 2 and 3 learners.
Coral Bryant
Room 2
Coral started at Piopio Primary as a teacher aide in 2013, before beginning her teaching degree in 2018. Coral became permanent in 2022 and teaches year 2. She is on the STEAM team. Coral's other responsibilities include Digital Technologies, Maths, Social Science, athletics organisation, Outdoor Calf Club and she is a teacher in the Red House.
Tisharne Sicely
Room 1
When your tamariki start on their learning journey as a new entrant Tisharne has the privilege of teaching them. In her third year at Piopio Primary School, Tisharne is part of the Piopio Youth Sports Committee and co-lead of our swimming sports. Tisharne is also part of the STEM group and a teacher in yellow house.
Niki Biro
Room 3
Whaea Niki recently joined the team at Piopio Primary School and is excited to be part of the school and wider community. She is a specialist teacher who trained in Hungary in Conductive Education and primary school teaching, and has completed further studies in New Zealand. She has worked across a range of countries, educational settings, ages and stages. At our kura, Whaea Niki works in a specialised role supporting ORS-funded students, alongside teaching our New Entrants in Room 3. Her approach is strongly student-centred, placing great value on building meaningful connections with students and their whanau, and creating an environment where every learner feels known, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.
Jo Witherick
Room 3
Teacher Release & Support Staff
Keri Alcock
Release Teacher
Keri been teaching at Piopio Primary in various roles for around 11 years. Currently she is teaching in Room 5 every Thursday. Keri has a passion for developing children's literacy and sports skills. Encouraging kids to be active is important to her.
Sue Keeling
Release Teacher
Sue is an experienced teacher who has taught throughout the school for many years. She has a passion for literacy teaching and has undertaken extensive professional development to become a specialist literacy intervention teacher. Sue loves helping children reach their reading and writing potential. She works with small groups and individuals throughout the school to provide them with the support they need to do this
Kim Bailey
Teacher Release
Kim has been part of Piopio Primary School since 2016, teaching in the Junior School and taking on a range of roles and responsibilities. This year, she is a Classroom Release Teacher (CRT) based in Room 9 three days a week. She teaches Science and Art and delivers the Enviroschools programme. She enjoys seeing students explore kaitiakitanga in our school garden and growing their understanding of how we care for Papatūānuku, and in turn, she cares for us. Kim enjoys encouraging students to take ownership of their learning, ask questions, and express their unique ideas and perspectives creatively through art.
Anna Price
SENCO teacher
Anna has been a part of Piopio Primary for over seven years and is passionate about building and nurturing positive relationships with whānau and tamariki. She works closely with teachers by offering guidance and practical strategies so every learner can participate and succeed. Anna is committed to connecting families with external specialists and local services, creating an inclusive environment for their tamariki to thrive.
Heather Griffin
Reliever
Many of you will already know Heather, as up until 2021 she taught full-time at Piopio Primary. Since then Heather has worked part time teaching and relieving at a number of schools.
Heather is providing relieving when available.
Heather says "Your children may not remember my name, but their eyes often light up when they see my blue bag containing my ‘secret weapon’ (for amazing behaviour!) - Ultimate Dodge Ball."
Lisa Lyford
Library/Office
Donna Hesp
Teacher Aide
Donna been a teacher aide at Piopio Primary since 2008. She supports individual students with their learning as well as across the whole school. Donna has a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) which allows her to relieve in the classroom across the school when required. Donna loves helping children reach their full potential and supporting our amazing Kaiako to help them achieve this.
Lee Alcock
Teacher Aide
Lee has held various fixed-term positions at Piopio Primary School over the years and has been a permanent Teacher Aide since 2022. Lee provides individual support to students, as well as supporting learning across all classrooms in our school. Lee is a qualified swimming instructor, a valuable skill that both our tamariki and staff benefit from. Lee is passionate about building literacy skills and supporting our tamariki to develop confidence and success in their learning.
Lulu Hussey
Teacher Aide
Lulu has held multiple positions within the school over the last decade and currently works as a teacher aide in the junior school, supporting neurodivergent children.
Ieva Walters
Teacher Aide
Ieva has worked at Piopio Primary School as a Teacher Aide since the beginning of 2024. Ieva is also a Communication/Education Support Worker and New Zealand Sign Language representative of our school.
Layla Todd
Teacher Aide
Layla joined the Piopio Primary School team as a Teacher Aide in our Junior School midway through 2025.
Layla brings a wealth of practical skills, enthusiasm and a positive, caring approach to her role. She enjoys supporting our tamariki with their learning and being part of the wider school community.
Layla is also passionate about giving back to our community and supports a number of community organisations, including the Piopio Primary School PTA.
Kelsey Kararka
Teacher Aide
Kelsey joined Piopio primary school since 2025. Kelsey currently works as a teacher aide in the junior school, supporting neurodivergent children.
Mel Coates
Teacher Aide
Mel joined Piopio Primary School at the beginning of Term 2 as a Teacher Aide and is enjoying this exciting next chapter in her career.
Originally from Maungaturoto in Northland, Mel spent two years working at the local high school before moving to Maungaturoto Primary School, where she worked for the past 10 years. During this time, she developed a passion for supporting neurodivergent tamariki, working with both individuals and small groups to help them thrive and reach their potential.
Mel is excited to now be part of the Piopio Primary School team and looks forward to continuing to support and encourage our tamariki in their learning and development.
