Specialist Subject - English
Blaire Emirali
Teacher English
After graduating Albany Senior High School in 2016, I got my Bachelor of Arts double majoring in Drama and English at UoA and now have the pleasure of spreading my love for literature and learning back in my community. I was inspired by my time as a student at ASHS to become a teacher with my passion for empowering young people to be their authentic self and find personal success, whatever that looks like to them. I spend most of my free time with my nose in a book or rehearsing for local plays.
Kieran Craft
Teacher English
I’m an English teacher who moonlights as a playwright. I love the ability to dive deeply into a text, explore ideas, highlight diverse perspectives, and show students that the skills they learn in English class don’t stop being useful the second they leave the room.
Laura Hunter
Acting Specialist Subject Leader English (2023-2024)
I am a Biology and English teacher, currently living the dream in the ASHS English department. I love being around young people and helping them to think critically and creatively. I live locally with my husband, Rich, our beautiful kids and nutty old dog. When not at school I love to walk in the bush or by the sea, swim, or lose myself in a good book.
Nathan Garton
Assistant Specialist Subject Leader English
After several years dithering about at university and exploring the wynds of Edinburgh, I heard the unmistakable call of secondary school teaching and completed a BA followed by an honours year reading English Literature and Medieval and Early Modern European texts. 2020 is my tenth year in this crazy profession. As an English teacher, I love exploring texts with students: both challenging them with new ways of reading the world, and being challenged by them in return. When I’m not teaching, I can be found playing guitar for a couple of rock bands and collecting records. I live in West Auckland with my beautiful wife, my daughter, Abby, my bro, Len, and two silly dogs.
Raewyn Donnell
Teacher English
Originally from Wellington, I am an English teacher who has taught in a wide variety of schools and arrived here at ASHS midway through 2019. I love the challenge of working in more diverse and interesting encountered. I live in West Auckland and love the warmer weather when I can paddleboard and enjoy the beaches in my downtime.
Nick Wilson
Assistant Specialist Subject Leader English (2023-2024) / Media Studies
After completing my Masters in Creative and Performing Arts, I was lucky enough to start teaching Media Studies and English at ASHS in 2010. As Assistant Specialist Subject Leader of English / Media Studies I have led the development of a programme that explores our lives as both consumers and producers of a constantly evolving landscape of media in the 21st century. This includes everything from social media, streaming media platforms, drama and documentary, news media and video production. Our students live in a world where we are exposed to more media than ever before and I believe it is crucial that we teach them how to safely navigate their way through the murky waters of fake news and dangerous misinformation.
Simon Knyvett
Teacher English / Media Studies
A late comer to teaching, I hope to bring my media experience into the classroom. Whether it is establishing nurturing but demanding learning relationships, or over analyzing texts for every last drop of meaning. It is in this that I hope to provide application to the world we live in and extend horizons beyond the individual echo chamber.
Debbie Clark
Teacher English
Coming Soon
