‘Happy Retirement’ to Ms. Sayer!

Sharon Sayer has been a valued member of our staff since 2008. As Sharon embarks on a new chapter, we bid farewell to an exceptional teacher who has made an indelible mark on Hillcrest High School.

Sharon is a passionate biologist coming into teaching from a career as a microbiologist. She has a flair for botany and can quickly give the biological name and adaptations for most nz native and introduced species.  She has always been an incredible asset to have on the Mt Pureora trips. Mr Chibnall will certainly miss not being able to say “Well I think it is this but just go and check that out with Ms Sayer”. 

Sharon is an incredibly caring teacher who wants and encourages every student in front of her to learn, understand and accurately apply sound scientific processes in all disciplines of the sciences. She encourages the students to produce well thought out scientific prose and many students can thank her for this skill. She excels in scaffolding for students, particularly in terms of writing frames for constructing answers, and in writing assessment documents which provide clear instructions. She also loves to thread her teaching with stories and personal anecdotes.

Sharon takes a very personal approach to the well being of students. She has always strongly advocated for students that she feels are getting a rough deal in one way or another, and at times this has taken up a substantial amount of her personal time. As a Hauora teacher, she sets high expectations of her students, in terms of uniform and attendance, but she has also developed very good relationships with those students over a five year time frame, and there is a genuine fondness for Sharon by the time they finish Year 13.

Sharon is a great mentor to those she takes under her wing, be they student teachers, new staff, quiet students who may be lacking in confidence, or students who come from a home life of disadvantage, and has been a passionate advocate at deans and HoF/HoD level for the latter group. 

As Sharon leaves Hillcrest High School, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her tireless efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.