Teacher - Room 22
Sarah Gardner
Kia ora and welcome!
My name is Sarah Gardner, I am one of the teachers you’ll be working with this year at Berkley Normal Middle School, and I am so excited to be part of your learning journey. Whakawhanaungatanga – building strong relationships – is really important to me, so I’d love to share a little bit about myself with you and your whānau. I was born and raised right here in Hamilton and now live here with my husband Nick, our son Sebastian, our daughter Amelie, and our very energetic dog, Louie. I studied to become a teacher at the University of Waikato, where I also completed my Honours in Education. I am currently working towards my Masters, as I love learning just as much as I love teaching. After finishing my teacher training, my husband and I packed our bags and moved to Bristol in the United Kingdom, where we both taught for three years. It was an amazing experience and helped shape the teacher I am today.
This year marks my tenth year teaching at Berkley Normal Middle School and my second year as a STOS (Specialist Teacher Outreach Service) teacher. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to be the Team Leader of both the Mahi Tahi and Tainui teams. In 2026, I am really looking forward to sharing a class with Mr Meiklejohn and working alongside the amazing Aranui teachers whilst also continuing to work with smaller groups in my STOS teacher role.
One of my favourite things about being a teacher is seeing students learn something new and feel proud of themselves. Every student brings something unique to our learning space, and I truly believe that together we can create a classroom where everyone feels safe, valued, and excited to learn. I can’t wait to see you grow into confident, curious, and amazing young people.
Outside of school, I love travelling and have been lucky to explore many parts of the world. Some of my favourite places include France (where I enjoyed using a bit of my French), Italy (for the incredible food), China (for how different it is from New Zealand), and South America (for its rich culture). Later this year, I’m excited to be travelling to South Korea and Japan. When I’m not travelling or teaching, you’ll find me reading, listening to music, dancing, heading to the beach with my family, drinking coffee with friends or eating anything chocolate.
I’m really looking forward to getting to know you and your whānau and to sharing a fun,
supportive, and inspiring year of learning together.
Nau mai, haere mai!