School Board

Name	Board Position	Member Type
Michael Houghton	Principal
Geoff Prentice	Staff Trustee	Elected
Riaz Peita	Student Trustee	Elected
Kim McCahon	Presiding Member	Elected
Brenden Nathan	Deputy Presiding Member	Elected
Sadie Cogan	Member	Elected
Kylie Kelsen	Member	Elected
Bryce Murray	Member	Selected
Ricky Wiperi	Member	Co-opted
Sheree Corston	Board Secretary

Kim McCahon
Hi, I’m Kim McCahon. My husband and I are dairy farmers in Te Kopuru. Our four sons attended Te Kopuru primary school and then carried on through to Dargaville High School.
This is my 9th year on the Board, of which I have been Board Chair since 2018. I absolutely appreciate the opportunities I’m given through being in this role on the Board. The success of our children is always at the forefront of any decisions we make as a Board and I am grateful to be part of that.

Michael Houghton (Principal)
Originally born in England, I grew up and attended school in Picton. After graduating from Canterbury University and Christchurch Teachers College, I started my teaching career at Wairoa College.
I have been working in the education sector for more than 25 years, mostly in the North Island and including 2 years at Otamatea High School. Most recently I was Principal of Queen Elizabeth College in Palmerston North.
My passion is providing pathways and opportunities for students to experience success. Important to this is building partnerships with families and whanau as well as the wider community.
I am married, with 2 children still at home. Both attended Dargaville High School. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music as well as reading and gardening.

Geoff Prentice
Kia ora koutou katoa,
I joined Dargaville High School in May 2017 to lead and teach in the Social Sciences. I became the staff representative on the board this year and am pleased to join such a collegial and passionate group. Having a vision of DHS being a transformative experience for all students, staff and whanau is important to me. Working together to help create a culture of greater manākitanga, respect and pride in our kura by including all, is an exciting journey to be on. I hail from Whanganui A Tara (Wellington) and with my lovely Japanese wife, Yoshiko, have four tamariki and four mokopuna in our immediate whanau.

Brenden Eruera Nathan
Kia ora,
Born and raised in Dargaville, my education began at both local Kindergartens, Dargaville Primary, Dargaville Intermediate, then a brief term at Dargaville High School before being sent to boarding school at Wesley College. I attended Massey University Albany for four years studying a BA Social Science and Policy. I returned to Dargaville to raise a family of 5 with wife Hellen Ashby-Nathan, 2 are current students. I am currently an employee of Dargaville Ford.
I’m a loyal supporter of community growth and development within our Kaipara district and the promotion of opportunity for youth to excel in education and sports. I’m excited to contribute to the DHS Board of Trustees. I will encourage the development of a positive environment, and the provisions for the best facilities laying the pathway of our future learners.

Sadie Cogan
Kia ora,
My whanau moved to Dargaville 5 years ago from Mangawhai. My son attends Dargaville High School and is currently in year 12.
I represented NZ at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and several World Championships and my passion is obviously coaching and mountain biking.
Along with my husband we own and operate 'Time To' the bike shop in Dargaville and we are heavily involved with the Kaipara Cycling Club and Kauri Coast Mountain Bike Park. I have been on a Charitable Track trust and several Club Committees and enjoy the next level of understanding and committing to a school board. I hope to add energy and passion where needed on this board and look forward to working as a team with the board for the better of the staff and pupils.

Kylie Kelsen
Hello,
I have lived and worked in the Dargaville community for the last 25 years. I live with my husband Selwyn and our two daughters Ella and Madison. Ella graduated Year 13 at DHS in 2022 and Madison starts at DHS in 2023.
At Board level I have previously worked as the Secretary for the NZ Plunket Society Northland Area Board, President for the Northern Wairoa Plunket Committee and I was the Northland Area Manager for Plunket Carseats. I have also previously been on the Board for the Early Years Services Hub here in Dargaville when it was first established. I have been the Secretary for the Te Kopuru Swimming Club for several years.
I am a qualified Community Karitane/Facilitator and have worked for NZ Plunket Society Inc working with families with children from new-born to 5 years old with interest and experience in maternal mental health and the wellbeing of new mothers and babies. I have also worked as a Programme Facilitator for NorthAble running the LYNKZ program for adults supporting those with learning, intellectual, physical, or sensory disabilities.
I am looking forward to being a part of the DHS Board and contributing to the challenging and rewarding opportunities that will be presented. I believe that kids need to have a constant nurturing solid foundation and environment and support to give them the best chance possible to have positive meaningful lives as adults. Having all this will be of benefit to the students, their families, the community and the school.
I like to take interest in my children’s education and schools and along with my previous experience on a board I hope to be the parent representative that is needed for this role.