Pride of NZ: Community-minded principal up for award

Jan Tinetti is humbled and "blown away" on being nominated for this year's Pride of New Zealand awards, saying that if it helps shine a positive light on the community she could not be happier. Photo / Andrew Warner

A Tauranga woman who usually shuns the limelight has been nominated in this year's Pride of New Zealand awards.

But a humbled Merivale School principal Jan Tinetti said the honour would help boost her community's reputation - which in itself demonstrated the reasons her name was put forward.

The nomination for Ms Tinetti in the Community Spirit category stated: "She takes pride in making sure all her students needs are met - breakfast, lunch, clothes you name it Jan will fix it. She never judges anybody ... Jan also arranges many family events at her school which brings the whole community together.

"Merivale School is a decile 1 school and Jan fights for every cent she gets ... her students are given hope of a bright future as well as showing pride in their work as well as themselves in their home lives. Jan will go the extra mile within the community and she does it from her heart not her head. She never gets publicly acknowledged ... seeing her students succeed is payment enough for her."

Ms Tinetti said she was "blown away" by the nomination.

"I think it's incredible. It's an absolute privilege to be part of that school," she said. "That community is the closest community I've ever been part of.

"You hear so much about people looking out for themselves and not knowing their neighbours.

"Merivale is not like that. I know there are lots of issues but they get past that. They will be caring rather than trying to demonise them. They want to make a difference."

Ms Tinetti, who is an NZEI board member, said her work within the school and community was "give and take".

"I don't expect anything in return for any of what I do but I get a lot on a day-to-day basis, and in the long term.

"Where I see children come back who have stayed in school and gone on to get qualifications and making a difference in their own lives - that's absolutely the reward."

Former students often returned to the school years later.

"It's who we are. It's part of that bigger community. It's not about upping and leaving. We will follow them every step of the way."

Ms Tinetti said the caring culture of the school was a collective effort.

"I think the school has always been like that, even before me.

"That's just the community. It's not about me, it's about the team.

"It's the team that makes a difference. I'm just the leader."

Ms Tinetti is on leave studying at the University of Canterbury for a Master's on the Positive Behaviour for Learning programme, which the school introduced in 2013.

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Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
To see more stories of our wonderful nominees click here.
For more information on the awards go to the official website.