Stacey Morrison
Year 7 Dean – Putauaki Hapū

Kia ora my name is Stacey Morrison. I am a local girl born and raised here in Kawerau, where I currently reside with my whānau. I have been teaching here at Tarawera High School for 10 years. This year I have taken the new role of Year 7 Kaitiaki, as well as teaching senior English, Maths, and Art classes. I look forward to the opportunity of working alongside students while working in these various roles. My focus will be on building positive relationships with the students, their whānau, and the wider community. 

Te Okeroa Ngaheu
Year 8 Dean

Ko Pūtauaki te Maunga 
Ko Rangitaiki te Awa
Ko Ngāti Awa
Ko Mataatua te waka 
Ko Kokohinau te Marae
Ko Te Pahipoto te Hapu
Ko Te Okeroa Ngaheu tōku ingoa
No Te Teko ahau

I am humbled to have been selected for the year 8 Dean’s position here at Tarawera High School. I strive to be an enthusiastic, caring educator who values the importance of relationships so that children can thrive in a learning environment which is stimulating, comfortable and appropriate to their needs. I look forward to working alongside our tamariki and whānau within our kura this year.  

Simon Mees
Year 9 Dean & e-Dean
Kia Ora. My name is Simon Mees and I am the Year 9 Dean for 2023. I have lived and worked in Kawerau since 2003 after having taught for a year at Te Whanau A Apanui Area school in 2001. I am passionate about sport and taught PE at Kawerau College before working at Tarawera High School. I enjoy the role of Dean as it gives me the opportunity to forge positive relationships with students and helps to give students a sense of direction as they look to set up successful lives for themselves. I currently teach French and am heavily involved in the student behaviour management system. 

Barbara Morgan
Year 10 Dean
Kia Ora
My name is Barbara Morgan, originally from Whenuapai, but I have been a resident of Kawerau for most of the past 40 years. My husband Rob and I, moved here as a young couple, raised our family here and have been actively involved in our wider community. As a piano teacher, I have spent many years working with a wide range of people, sharing my love of music. It was through this, while employed by the Rautahi Employment Program, that I became instrumental in founding Kawerau’s Christmas in the Park. I went on to facilitate several youth programs until secondary teaching for Kawerau College. Over the past 20 years I have taught Music and Performing Arts in secondary school at both Kawerau and Bunbury – Western Australia. On returning to Tarawera High School, I have taken on the roles of Fashion Design teacher, piano accompanist for the school choir and I look after the distribution of laptops to students and their whānau, in conjunction with Te Aka Toitū Trust.

The many connections that I have in Kawerau and the vast experience through teaching both here and overseas, allows me to connect with our students on a personal level. Alongside our own nine mokos, there are many tamariki at our school who are whānau/ whānui to Rob and I. This makes it a privilege to provide pastoral care for all of the Year Ten cohort.

Leah Henderson
Junior Academic Advisor
Kia ora, my name is Leah Henderson. I am the Junior Academic Advisor and a Year 7 teacher at Tarawera High School. I am originally from Auckland, been living in Kawerau since 2017 and have been working at Tarawera High since 2019. My role this year includes overseeing the data, programmes and academic progress of your child in the Junior Department. If you have any concerns around the academic progress of your child in year 7-9, please request an appointment with me. I look forward to working with you and your child this year to help them achieve their academic goals.

Karen Henderson
Senior Academic Advisor
Kia ora e te whānau o te Kura tuarua Tarawera.  Ko Karen Henderson tōku ingoa.  I was new to Tarawera High School in 2022 although I have taught in the Kawerau community in the past.  I have the privilege of being the Senior Academic Advisor for 2023 which sees me supporting all students in year 10 to 13 with their academic pathways here at THS.  I am here to monitor, track, support and challenge our students to do the best they can in all of their classes and to gain the best qualifications they can.  I will meet with students to help them set their academic goals and support them with their subject choices to ensure they are on the right track to gain a quality pathway once they graduate from THS.  If you or your student have any questions or issues around subject choices, results or pathways, please do not hesitate to contact the office and make an appointment with me.  I look forward to working alongside you as your student completes their secondary schooling journey here at THS.