Our Board

Jody O’Connell

Presiding Member

I am thrilled to be the Board Chair of Central Auckland Specialist School (CASS). Jayden, my-eight year-old son attends the Oranga Satellite class, and Zoe, my nine-year-old daughter attends Stonefields School. I have a keen interest in school improvement because I was a facilitator to primary schools in Auckland for 10 years and this is what was the motivation for me to apply for a board position. I have a strong belief that all children can learn, and it is the adaptable teacher who makes this happen. I am currently relieving in Bairds Mainfreight School, Otara, which I enjoy immensely. My husband Dave, the children and I, spend a lot of our time in Pauanui in the Coromandel; it has a lot of flat terrain and Jayden loves cycling around in his bike trailer. CASS is a unique school with a very dedicated staff and community, and my vision is to continue to build and promote the expectations of the community for the best learning and teaching for our students.

Katie Kobylarz

Staff Trustee 

I have been privileged to be one of the teachers at CASS for the past two years. My postgraduate studies focused on Inclusive Education in the classroom, an area that has long been a passion of mine within the education sector. I am very much looking forward to serving as the staff representative for CASS, ensuring that teachers’ voices and perspectives are heard and valued.

Melissa Bell

Parent Trustee 

I joined the Board of CASS as a parent representative in 2019.  I have an almost 10 year-old son who has attended CASS (and previously Sunnydene) since he commenced his primary schooling.  I also have a daughter attending a mainstream Catholic school, and a son still in kindergarten.

After finding that early childhood education was not supportive of nor particularly welcoming to children with disabilities, I am delighted that CASS provides a place of acceptance and belonging to children and young adults with different and diverse learning needs.

My background is in law, having qualified in Australia, before moving to the United Kingdom, and finally moving to New Zealand with my husband, Chris.  I currently work as a senior in-house lawyer to a large company in the insurance industry.

As a Board Member, I bring my professional skills and experience to my role in overseeing the governance of CASS and supporting the principal and senior leadership team to ensure that CASS achieves its vision of inspiring engagement and realising the potential of every learner.

Maria Aka

Parent Trustee

Kia Orana and warm pacific greetings,

I am honored  to be a parent trustee for CASS, I am of Cook Island descent, my son Thaddeus who is 13 years old attends StAR 5 Base school, my son Damarian (12) attends Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate school and my daughter Zaeliyah (9) attends Favona school, I currently serve as a parent trustee for these schools as well.

My background is in an advisory role mainly in community engagement, Finance and IT (Information and Technology). I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in governance and am inspired by my children especially Thaddeus, he inspired me to be his voice, he gave me the reason to give back to our community, to learn, educate and share my knowledge of life experiences in our community. My children instill confidence in me as to why education is important so being on the board was a good start, I enjoy it! the challenges and learning of school governance so we can make good decisions that benefit and excel our children “Our future leaders”.

Kia manuia

James Kolbe

Parent Trustee 

Rachel Tuisaula

Parent Trustee