Staff Directory

Chris Mitchell

Nau mai, haere mai ki te te kura o Ihu Karaiti te Kamaka!

It is an honour and a privilege to be a teacher and educational leader here at Cornerstone Christian School. I can honestly say that I have spent the last twenty years doing my dream job – teaching students across the wider Manawatu region – five of those as Teaching-Principal at Awahou School in the Pohangina Valley, and here at Cornerstone Christian School since mid-2008. In 2016, I was appointed to the position of Deputy Principal and in January 2020 I assumed the role of Acting Principal.

As a school, we tend to focus on the holistic development of each child – or to put it more simply, their ‘discipleship’. I believe that discipleship is simply learning to live the way that God wants us to live and I love being part of this process in our students’ lives. Ultimately our key desire is that every Cornerstone student comes to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and develops their own relationship with God. We have a strong character development focus with an emphasis on our values of respect, diligence, kindness and integrity with an underpinning value of humility before God. Although our children achieve highly in their academic education and our school achieves excellent results on a national level, I believe that it is more important to focus on their developing character than their academic grades. In our modern world, learning can occur wherever and whenever you like, but good character develops when you are young, so that is our focus; good grades, and achieving to one’s best, are a natural outflow of developing good character.

On a personal level, I am married to Anne-Marie Mitchell who is also on staff here at Cornerstone Christian School as a teacher aide. Together we have four grown-up daughters – two of whom are also teachers here in Palmerston North. When not in school you will find me gardening or looking after our lifestyle block just out of Ashhurst; casting a fly for trout down at some local river or walking the hills with a pack on my back.

My office door is usually open and I love meeting people in our wider Cornerstone family. Please drop in and say hello if you are over near the administration office or if you see me wandering around the school grounds.

Ngā mihi nui

James Rose

Tēnā koutou.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful welcome I have received starting at Cornerstone this year. I have been impressed by the many supportive staff, parents and students that have popped in for a chat or a handshake to express their greetings.

In coming to Cornerstone, I join the rest of my family here. Mrs Rose of course is the Team Leader in Year 7/8, and Harrison and Ashton have been attending Cornerstone since they started school.

From my point of view, it is a real joy to serve in the same school my family is part of. As such, in many ways, I am no stranger to the school. Over the years, it has been wonderful to stand on the sidelines of Hockey fields with other Cornerstone parents willing and cheering our sons and daughters on. Braving the fantastic winter weather that we enjoy here in Palmerston North and celebrating both the wins, and the character-building losses along the way.

I really enjoyed the junior prizegiving last year and seeing the numerous ways our students have “stepped-up” to serve and give expression to our school values.

I believe God created each of us in his image, yet unique, with our own talents, gifts, and personalities. Diversity is our asset in creation, we can’t all be feet or hands for example. Encouraging each person to follow Christ and use their gifts and talents as they do so will ensure that collectively we have the best chance to leave behind a “fruit that remains”.

To me, respect is the element that brings it all together, and remembering that each of us have
been created in the image of God.

Jesus commands each of us to ‘love thy God and love thy neighbour’. As we do so, we learn to receive – and give – forgiveness, which in turn makes a path for healing and restoration.

I come to Cornerstone from St Peter’s College where I served as the Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School and Curriculum. I have spent almost my entire career in Christian education and feel very blessed to continue that journey here at Cornerstone.

Thank you again for your warm welcome, and may God bless each of you in your journey with Christ.

Hayden Hewitt

I joined the Cornerstone Christian School community at the beginning of 2017. Prior to this I have taught Science and Biology for ten years, including a year teaching in the UK. Before teaching, I worked for as number of years as a Science Technician at Massey University and within the dairy industry.

I am passionate about Science, and its relevance to all of us in our everyday lives. I love the way that we can see the Glory of God displayed in everything from the complexity of a single cell, through to the beauty and vastness of space.

I am inspired by the idea that the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. In my teaching, I hope to stoke the fires of interest and curiosity about the amazing world around us. I love being part of an enthusiastic and committed staff here at Cornerstone Christian School and belonging to the wider school community.

I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, and cooking and eating food – especially dishes from other countries. I love being outdoors in God’s good creation, and I’m a keen deer stalker and fisherman.

Ian Groube

Kia ora koutou,
Before Cornerstone, I taught Mathematics for the past ten years at Feilding High School. I have also taught at Totara College in Dannevirke. I have always been passionate about Mathematics and I love teaching our young people how to problem solve using math skills. I am a firm believer that hard work is far more rewarding than luck.

I was a student Te Aute College, and from there I joined the Navy. I was the ship’s logistics manager, so numbers have always been a part of me. I am married to Heidi and we have three children: Courtney, Campbell and Devon.

I am looking forward to being part of the school’s growth, and to what God has in store for me. I also look forward to the different aspects Cornerstone Christian School will bring into my life and how my experiences and skills will be utilised to enhance the school.

Raeleen Simpson

I have been a part of the Cornerstone Christian School community for a number of years, both as a teacher (full and part-time) and as a parent of five children who are past and present students of both the school and preschool.  

I enjoy teaching across all areas of the school and love being a part of children’s learning through their primary years. I especially enjoy tapping into each child’s strengths and building on those to further understanding. As the Primary AP, it is a privilege to lead an awesome team of passionate teachers dedicated to supporting children in their academic and faith journeys.

We are blessed at Cornerstone Christian School to be able to provide a Christian education for our children and to be able to place Christ at the centre of all that we do.

Dr Bronwyn Boddy

I joined the Cornerstone staff in 2015, after teaching at Queen Elizabeth College since 2009. I am excited to be a part of the growing secondary area of the school in Mathematics and using my skills in the running of the Student Management System, KAMAR. 

My favourite moments in teaching are helping students make the connections to become confident and independent learners. 

Aside from teaching and caring for my two young daughters, I love being a part of church worship teams on Sundays, and also play the flute in a local orchestra and flute/piano for musical theatre shows.

Craig McDonald

Kia ora

My name is Craig McDonald and I reside in G block as a Y7 teacher when I’m not being involved in the organisation of sports and tribes around the school.

I have taught every year group in the primary school, with no firm favourite level, just some interesting memories!

Over half of my teaching experience has been in Christian Schooling. I do my best to integrate our Christian Faith with what we are learning in the classroom about ourselves and the world around us.

As well as my teaching diploma, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education focusing on Christian Schooling, and a Theology degree. These are helping me to form my ideas about how to achieve a successful Christian Education.

Clare Long

I’m a special education teacher.

Vicki Scoggins

Vicki trained as a primary school teacher in 1984, teaching for a couple of years in Wellington schools before having her family.

She retrained in the finance field, graduating in 2001 and has worked in various organisations as an Accounting Technician, from Chartered accountants, corporate (Zespri), private industry (timber mill and Maori trusts).  Her first venture into the incredibly unique finance side of education was in 2020 when she joined the team at Cornerstone Christian School and she is still learning.

Vicki is our Executive Officer looking after payroll and finance.