Article courtesy of the Western Leader

Jude grew up in the West as a foundation pupil at both Hobsonville School and then Whenuapai School. Her family moved to Wigram Airbase in Christchurch and Jude had her first three years of secondary education at Riccarton High.

At her father’s retirement from the RNZAF, the family returned to the West, to Te Atatu, where Jude went to Rutherford High and was ultimately head girl. Jude loved her schooling and received excellent results. While travelling overseas she met Lew – a prominent folk musician – and returned to Auckland to marry. She worked in the legal field in NZ and offshore and then after more travel came back to New Zealand pregnant. She has three wonderful children and it was through her children that she became fascinated by teaching.

While president of the Henderson Play Centre, Jude ran a craft business from home and a puppet theatre at her local church. She also became a parent help at Lincoln Heights Primary. The esteemed Elwyn Richardson took an interest in her, suggesting, “You should be a teacher. You’re a natural.” Within a year Jude was enrolled at university where she completed her BA in literature and Maori and Pacific history. She ran an out-of-hours music and drama school from Lincoln Heights while training at ACE, graduating in 1990. The day she qualified, Lincoln’s principal John Hope rang with a job offer. She progressed rapidly through to senior teacher and became the coordinator for gifted and talented children.

Jude has a passion for visual and performing arts, ICT and literacy. In 1996 she won a national award as an outstanding teacher of literacy. Loving learning, Jude enrolled at university again and graduated in 2000 with her Masters of Educational Management (with first class honours), a new degree that incorporated MBA papers. Jude went on to became deputy principal at Sunnyvale School and then principal at Green Bay School where she has been for four years.

She is proud of her school, her wonderful staff and the achievements of the students. She loves her job and feels privileged to have it.