Newsmaker: Yvette Krohn-Isherwood

NEWSMAKER: Yvette Krohn-Isherwood

This week's Newsmaker is Yvette Krohn-Isherwood, a former John Paul College assistant principal who was recently awarded the Woolf Fisher Trust Fellowship.

Tell us about yourself?

I was born in South Africa and grew up in Port Elizabeth. I was a real geek growing up (probably still am!) and loved debating, chess, quiz club and reading.

I taught for five years in South Africa and then emigrated to New Zealand, where I have taught at John Paul College, Burnside High School and Trident High School. I have also lectured at Lincoln University.

I am currently seconded by the University of Auckland as an English facilitator for the Central North Island.

I am blessed with a great family: two beautiful girl- Abby (6) and Eva (4) and a supportive husband who is also a teacher at Trident High School.

I hate being idle, and so I always seem to have an ongoing project. I have completed five degrees (and haven't ruled out further studies!)and am currently busy writing my 12th book - another educational resource for English teachers.

What do you think makes an excellent teacher?

An excellent teacher is passionate about his or her subject and is always willing to learn more about it.

I also believe that an excellent teacher genuinely cares about the students, not just as students or learners, but also as people. Excellent teachers see the best in their students and they help their students to see the best in themselves. Most students today have the ability to succeed, but they lack the self-belief to do so.

What do you love about your job?

Everything! I love working with teenagers, I love my subject, I love learning every day.

I love seeing students years after they have left school and hearing their success stories and knowing that I facilitated at least part of that journey.

I love the youthfulness, vitality, enthusiasm and love of life that students have, and a little of that projects onto me every day and keeps me young at heart.

I love teaching all kinds of different texts and seeing how the messages of those texts transform those students by creating new perspectives and beliefs, opening hearts and minds.

What motivated you to get into the profession?

I have always wanted to be a teacher and never really considered being anything else. In South Africa, teaching is very poorly paid and by entering the profession, I was basically guaranteeing myself a life of poverty!

That didn't stop me because it was all I wanted to do. My dad used to tell me that if you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life, and that is how I still feel about teaching.

What do you love about Rotorua?

Even though I was born in South Africa, Rotorua feels like my home town. It was the first town I settled in, way back in 1998, and I was enchanted by all the different cultures.

At John Paul College, I was fortunate enough to be immersed in the Maori, Pasifika and Pakeha world and I learnt a great deal about all three. Rotorua gave me my New Zealand identity.

I love the friendliness of the people, the hospitality and the lovely atmosphere.

Geographically, it is the most interesting place I have ever lived in- steam and bubbles, shakes and mud! It is also a really central location, close to so many other towns and cities - almost the perfect place to live!

Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know?

I have a black belt in karate and was a reserve for the South African Karate Team in 1993.

I was kicked out of the school choir in standard 2, because I actually can't sing at all but I had fooled the choir teacher into thinking I could at the audition.

I have great taste in literature, but awful taste in television - I am a reality show junkie and have never missed a single episode of Survivor!