Meet The Team
Mike Brosnahan
Principal
Mike has been the principal since 2009, before that he was the deputy of our school. Mike has taught and lead in schools for 35 years in New Zealand and England. Mike has been a mentor for beginning principals, served on Catholic Reviews and is on the leadership group for the learning support cluster.
Outside school Mike lives with his wife on a small farm and coaches women's cricket.
Judy Baines
Associate Principal / Room 1 Teacher
Judy is a very experienced teacher who has taught from New Entrants to Year 8 throughout her teaching career. She teaches our New Entrant and Year 1 class in Room 1. Judy is the lead teacher of Mathematics and our school SENCO (Special Education Needs Coordinator). She enjoys developing positive relationships with students, whanau and the school community.
Her classroom is a calm and inviting space which fosters independence and self-esteem.
She is passionate about the importance of a successful transition to school life for her New Entrant children and the importance of building strong early numeracy and literacy skills to form solid foundations for learning.
All learners are encouraged to be the very best they can be while enjoying all aspects of school life. Her classroom motto is “Where learning, play and fun are all rolled into one.”
Lisa Matheson
Associate Principal / Room 7 Teacher
Lisa Matheson
Associate Principal / Room 7 Teacher
Mrs Lisa Matheson has a lot to offer our senior school students with years of experience teaching Years 7-8. She has strengths in Health and Physical Education, Literacy, Technology and the Arts.
Lisa is the Sports Coordinator and Lead teacher (Kaiako) of the Kapa Haka Cultural group and Stars on Stage performances.
Lisa is passionate about teaching and challenges her students to become independent and self-monitored learners. She uses a wide range of teaching strategies to engage her students and prepares them with confidence, leadership and EOTC opportunities for their transition to secondary school.
Lisa is our Staff representative on the Board of Trustees.
Virginia O'Neil
Director of Religious Studies / Room 3 Teacher
Virginia is an experienced teacher, who has had a long association with St Mary’s School.
She teaches our Year 1 and Year 2 class in Room 3. Virginia is the lead teacher of Junior Reading, is Reading Recovery trained and our school DRS (Director of Religious Education). She has a strength in Pastoral Care with her strong link between our Parish and the school community.
She is enthusiastic about children’s learning and fosters positive relationships with Whanau. Virginia creates a classroom environment in which everyone is encouraged to do their best while having fun and to make good choices.
Arnon Tapp
Room 6 Teacher
Arnon joined us in 2019 and teaches our Year 5 & 6 class. He has a strong passion for mathematics which he endeavours to pass onto his students. Arnon has strengths in Physical Education and Technology.
Arnon is a strong believer in celebrating everyone's strengths within the classroom.
Arnon spends his spare time playing and coaching football, watching movies and building lego.
arnon@stmarys-mosgiel.school.nz
Will Deerness
Room 5 Teacher
Will joined us in 2023 and teaches our Year 2/3 class in Room 5. He has a passion for Literacy, Hauora and Physical Education. Will believes in strong relationships with children and whānau.
Will lives in Dunedin with his family and enjoys spending time around water or on the sidelines of his children's sports games.
Katie O'Connell
Room 4 Teacher
Katie O’Connell teaches the Year 4 and 5 children. She lives in Dunedin with her partner Conall. Katie is passionate about working with children and helping them find their strengths and passion in the classroom. Katie enjoys dancing and musicals, baking and walking her dog, Joey along the beach.
Emma Paterson
Room 4 Teacher / Reading Recovery
Emma has been at St Mary's since the end of 2022. She grew up locally and has spent time teaching in both Dunedin and Oamaru.
She has strengths in Social Sciences, Literacy, Te Reo and Visual Art and loves sharing them with those she teaches. She is also trained in Reading Recovery.
Emma is passionate about creating an inclusive and nurturing learning environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed.
In her spare time Emma enjoys reading, playing netball and spending time with family and friends.
Kristy Brown
Office Administrator
Kristy joined the team at St Mary's in 2023.
She provides all the background support for the teachers and children and is your first point of call if you have any questions or require information about our school.
Ashley Dickinson
Learning Assistant