Bree Des Barres
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
Tauranga,Mount Maunganui
2
Languages
1
Certification
13
years of professional experience
- Experienced, fully registered teacher spanning primary, secondary and Māori-medium education, Learning Support and counselling. Currently contributing to the English Curriculum Refresh at Te Aho
- Te Kura Pounamu. Skilled in curriculum development, mathematics pedagogy, whanaungatanga, personalised learning, pastoral support and online education. Committed to professional integrity, collaboration and positive outcomes for ākonga, tamariki, whānau and kura.
- Whānau is at the heart of my life, and I am a proud mum to two boys. I value connection, community and being actively involved in the lives of my tamariki and wider whānau. I have a strong connection to te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and my Ngāti Porou whakapapa, and enjoy continuing my own learning and growth. Outside of mahi, I love being outdoors and spending time with my boys, particularly camping, fishing, diving, surfing and cycling. I also enjoy reading biographies and learning about people, their experiences and the journeys that have shaped them.
Work History
Curriculum Writer – English Curriculum
9 Months- Contributed to English curriculum refresh by developing engaging, culturally relevant online learning resources for ākonga across Years 1–10, integrating numeracy and embedding mātauranga Māori into curriculum resources.
- Remote
- Developed curriculum resources aligned with Te Kura learning programmes and achievement objectives.
- Adapted lesson content for online delivery across diverse student learning pathways.
- Collaborated with subject specialists to refine resource accuracy and curriculum alignment.
Kaiako – English & Learning Support
1 Year 11 Months- Facilitated personalised distance learning for ākonga, teaching NCEA English
- Delivering tailored Learning programs in Learning Support to ākonga with ORS funding.
Kaiako – Junior Te Reo Māori, English & Pathways
11 Months- Taught Junior Te Reo Māori, NCEA English Levels 1–3, in a culturally responsive English programme that supported student engagement, learning and achievement.
Kaiako – Learning Support & Junior Te Reo Māori
11 Months- Taught Junior Te Reo Māori and supported ākonga with additional learning needs in all subjects at Junior level.
Counsellor in Schools
11 Months- Managed a contract for Ministry of Education across four rural kura Māori,
- Provided ākonga-centered counselling support, addressing emotional, social, and practical needs.
- Assessed student needs and developed care plans aligned with support goals.
- Maintained accurate case notes and documentation to support continuity of care.
- Collaborated with external agencies and social services
Guidance Counsellor
1 Year 11 Months- Delivered personalised counselling and guidance support, coordinated external agency referrals, and maintained structured pastoral case notes in the KAMAR teaching system.
- Provided academic, social and emotional counselling support to students across diverse year levels.
- Coordinated individual wellbeing plans in collaboration with teachers, families and support services.
- Assessed student needs and referred cases to appropriate internal and external agencies.
Kaiako – Years 1–6
11 Months- Taught primary year levels, focusing on junior literacy and numeracy in a bilingual environment.
Kaiako – Years 0–1
9 Months- Delivered instruction in junior primary year levels in all subjects.
Kaiako
11 Months- Taught NCEA Level 1 English
Education
Diploma Te Tohu Paetahi - Te Reo Māori
Postgraduate Diploma of Education - Counselling
Graduate Diploma of Teaching - Primary
Diploma - Adult Education
Bachelor of Social Sciences - Psychology & Tikanga Māori
Skills
Curriculum development
Collaborative curriculum design
Culturally relevant curriculum
Digital learning resources
Curriculum alignment
Curriculum assessment
Personalised learning
Professional collaboration
Learning management systems
Student Management Systems (KAMAR and eTAP)
Microsoft 365 applications
Google Workspace applications
Adobe Acrobat and Canva
Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Digital tools
Resource organization
Certification
- Full Driver Licence
- Current First Aid
- Teaching Council registration current to October 2027
Tōku Pepeha
- Ko Marotiri te maunga | Ko Mangahauini te awa | Ko Nukutaimemeha te waka
- Ko Tuatini te marae | Ko Huiwhenua te wharenui | Ko Hinemania te wharekai
- Ko Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare te hapū | Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
- Ko te akau
- Tokomaru te haukāinga
Personal Information
Driving License: Full Driver Licence
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Maori
Professional Working
Timeline
Curriculum Writer – English Curriculum
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
01.2026 - CurrentRead More
Kaiako – English & Learning Support
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
01.2024 - 12.2025Read More
Kaiako – Junior Te Reo Māori, English & Pathways
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri a Maui
01.2023 - 12.2023Read More
Kaiako – Learning Support & Junior Te Reo Māori
Lytton High School
01.2022 - 12.2022Read More
Counsellor in Schools
Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust
01.2021 - 12.2021Read More
Guidance Counsellor
Gisborne Girls’ High School
01.2019 - 12.2020Read More
Kaiako – Years 1–6
Selwyn Primary
01.2018 - 12.2018Read More
Kaiako – Years 0–1
Te Hapara Primary School
01.2016 - 10.2016Read More
Kaiako
Freyberg High School
01.2014 - 12.2014Read More
University of Waikato
Diploma Te Tohu Paetahi from Te Reo Māori
Read More
Massey University
Postgraduate Diploma of Education from Counselling
Read More
Victoria University of Wellington
Graduate Diploma of Teaching from Primary
Read More
Te WānangaAotearoa
Diploma from Adult Education
Read More
University of Waikato
Bachelor of Social Sciences from Psychology & Tikanga Māori
Read More