The Catholic Education Office recently welcomed Carmel Spencer to the role of Secondary Religious Education Advisor.

With a background in science and chemistry teaching, and a Masters of Educational Leadership from the Australian Catholic University, Carmel comes to the Education Office from Taikura Rudolf Steiner School in Hastings, where she was principal for just over one year.

Before that she was principal at Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton for four years.

These positions have given her broad exposure to the education sectors – Taikura Rudolf Steiner School caters to kindergarten, primary, and secondary students – and a great insight into different worldviews and a deeper understanding and appreciation of the role of special character in education

Originally from Whanganui, Carmel attended Sacred Heart College, where she first did some relief teaching in the early 1990s.  After 15 year of teaching Science, she discovered a passion for teaching Religious Education while teaching at Cullinane College, Whanganui and Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt.

In 2017 she accepted the role of Secondary RE Advisor, after feeling the need to move away from her principal role.

Carmel brings numerous skills from working right through all education sectors, and a deep understanding of the importance and centrality of special character, which will greatly benefit her new position.

Carmel is married with two adult sons. She tries to keep fit through triathlon and is passionate about music: she plays the trombone and in the local brass band as well as heartily engaging in singing wherever possible.