Hi, My name is Nikita Bent. I am currently in year 11. I have been at Craighead for 4 years now. I am looking forward to being the Student Representative for 2021. I am on many committees such as the school debating team, chapel committee, and I am a member of the student volunteer army. I am one of the representatives for the Boarders on the food committee and I am currently one of the three Student Council Representatives for Year 11. I am keen to encourage more input from students and to present their views to the board. I have had practice speaking in front of audiences and know how to convincingly craft a case from my time in debating. 

With three young daughters attending Craighead Diocesan School I am passionate about girls’ education. My family chose Craighead because we believed it offered our girls every opportunity to achieve success in whatever they set their hearts and minds to. After 18 months I can already say that thanks to the dedicated staff, teachers and coaches, Craighead has delivered.

I have been involved in education professionally for over 20 years having taught as a Mathematics teacher at New Plymouth Boys’ High School before moving to Timaru in 2017 to  be closer to family. After a year as Head of Mathematics at Opihi College, I was appointed   Head of Mathematics at Timaru Boys’ High School where I currently teach and lead a team.

I like to make a positive contribution where I am which means that I get involved in the wider life of the schools I work in and the community at large. At NPBHS I was in charge of student leadership and heavily involved in sport. I was recognised by the NZSS Sports Council for Services to school sport in 2017. Since moving to South Canterbury I have served on the Craighead Sports Advisory Council, coached Volleyball at Craighead, conceived of and helped organise the Caroline Bay Relays and am currently serving as Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee that is bringing NZSS Cross Country to Timaru in June.

Most importantly, I have the skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the governing of Craighead to ensure that all the girls have equal opportunity to achieve to their highest potential. Education is always in a state of change, and the recent announcements around NCEA are significant. The challenges ahead include but are not limited to maintaining high standards and opportunities for academic excellence at Craighead whilst catering to the individual needs of all the girls, being able to offer an increasing array of subject choices across all curriculum areas, making wise decisions about ICT and student devices, and continuing to provide a multitude of extra-curricular opportunities for both the elite and the participant in sport and culture.

I believe I could be a valuable resource in working with the school to navigate the changes and challenges ahead as your Board of Trustees Parent Representative at Craighead Diocesan School.