You have a very good turn of phrase... and (despite all of our seemingly idle chit chat sessions) - you have cobbled together a remarkably insightful, deep and .... positive report. Once again I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our sessions this year - sometimes heavy, sometimes light but always interesting and always a time I look forward to. Thank you Bryan.

—Marty Hookham, Principal, Korokoro School

You bloody nailed it!

—Nigel Frater, Principal, Plateau School

Wow this is truly amazing!  You show an incredible ability to assimilate the information and write it in a really succinct way! .... I have truly valued your insight and would very much like to keep in touch.

—Tania Cox, DP Adventure School

Thanks for the GAME consultancy newsletters - they are great!

—Jan Otene, Rewarewa School

Bryan, your recruitment strategy and process is proving very successful to date! You have added significant value and advice - so thank you. This is borne out in (my opinion only) by a good number of very high quality applicants.” Martin Read, Trustee, Kelburn Normal School and “Thank you Bryan - I will raise a quiet toast to you this evening!

—Tim Stewart BOT Chair, Kelburn Normal School

... you are spoken of very highly in Principal circles on the coast....

—Jess Ward, Paraparaumu Beach School

I have huge respect for you ..... I am very excited about what we are going to achieve with these staff this year and the reality is that they are being given such a unique and special learning support programme. I have told them all that I believe that your ability to make a person QUESTION WHAT ONE IS DOING .......is the key thing that makes your work in schools fantastic Bryan.

—Wendy Esera, Henderson Intermediate

You have a gift for a seemingly casual conversation but gaining some spot on observations.

—Des Hedley, Kapanui School

I liked the [appointment] process. The format made it clear to applicants what you were looking for and easier for the panel to get to that information quickly.

—Pip Newton, Principal Tairangi School

We are extremely grateful to you for conducting such an insightful, sensitive, thorough and professional principal's appraisal. It is a huge amount of work. Thank you for working on it so expeditiously..... I think you appreciated the very special personality of our school ...

—Amanda Aarons, BOT Chair, Sacred Heart College Napier

I’m so pleased that the Board made the decision to employ your help with this [principal appointment] process.

—Marie Gibson, BOT Chair Paraparaumu Beach School

—Kevin Carter, Rongotai College

.....  gosh you worked hard on your last visit. As discussed, would very much like to carry out the developments around teacher inquiry we discussed, are there other principals doing the same thing, maybe we could start a PLC group as part of the development? Can we make some time and dates for next year?”   

—Jonathon Tredray, Northcross Intermediate

Thanks for the whole appraisal programme this year - I've really enjoyed the opportunity to discuss day to day and strategic principalship. Having to write down and discuss in more detail what I've been doing this year has helped me reflect on the effectiveness (or not) of things we are attempting to do and it also helps in looking forward to where we are going..... Your feed forward and feed back around ERO was really helpful and appreciated as well.

—Neil Worboys, Wainuiomata School

[You were] able to professionally and realistically hone in on the important issues that required development while giving support and understanding that left me feeling professionally supported and valued. I now have a clear direction to follow for 2011 based on my needs and the needs of the school.

—Phil Robertson, Featherston School, Principal

Always enjoy your company and our professional discussions.

—Martin Elms, St Patricks School Paraparaumu Principal

[You have] done a very rigorous and professional job of my appraisal. Our staff, the Board and I all enjoyed working with you and I found the process both encouraging and affirming, whilst useful for identifying where to go next.

—Ian Dewar, Tawa School Principal

[You] have an easy way with people, that puts them at ease. Interviews with staff, parents and board members were conducted with little fuss but in a very professional manner. I found the appraisal nonthreatening but the hard questions were asked. The process involved the necessary amount of rigor to ensure integrity. I would be happy to use [you] again for an appraisal, or other professional services.

—John Wootton, Korokoro School Principal

............personalised, professional appraisal process with understandable and achievable next steps for the staff and school......highly recommend [you]to all schools.

—Gail Marshall, Solway School Principal

On behalf of the Pomare BOT and school community, thank you for completing Chris’ appraisal. I have found it an insightful experience and a pleasure working with you. I will be presenting your report at the next BOT meeting and as you have suggested will use portions of it in our ERO review process. Again thank you for your diligent work, and look forward to recommending your services and possibly working with you in the future.

—Shayne Fairbrother, Pomare School BOT Chairperson

Thanks for that [ERO]session yesterday Bryan. From the feedback this morning it was very well received..... I told Liz she should get you for Newlands Primary when they have theirs

—Mike Debney, South Wellington Intermediate Principal

The Board found you very easy to work with and it was apparent that you held a very sound working knowledge of the [appraisal] process. During the review I felt comfortable, and know that staff members found you professional and very easy to communicate with. The final report was detailed and it was obvious that he had fully understood the issues in a Day and boarding School.

—Erik Pedersen, St Matthews Collegiate Principal

Wow, what an interesting report and a lot of information that you have sourced. Thank-you.

—Mary Cook, St Marys College, Principal

You did a great job .... staff members have said how much they enjoyed listening to you. I enjoyed it too. We felt we learnt much and you also confirmed many of the good practices that we were already doing. I’ll be recommending you to other schools.

—Steve Black, Naenae Intermediate Principal

It is so important to a principal that the person appraising them understands the context within which they operate. [you] did this really well. [you] also quickly perceived the kind of principal I am. The rigorous process you used ensured I was given helpful feedback and provided with a real picture of how I am viewed by board and staff.

—Clifford Wicks, Otari School Principal

I was very pleased with the job you did last year, and want to know if you would be happy to carry out [the] appraisal again this year?

—Blair McLaren, Greytown School Board of Trustees Chairman

Thanks for your work with Raumati South School this year. [you] brought a wealth of knowledge to the principal appraisal process. Staff and Board members included in the process found [you] to be very professional and they felt able to communicate easily with [you]. The ... appraisal included interviews, a user friendly survey and professional discussion with me. Our Board Chairperson and I felt the appraisal had integrity and I got a sense of affirmation and direction from it.

—Graham McDonald, Raumati South School Principal

... two major surveys for us this year. The presentation of the feedback was highly professional and the results were very easy to use.

—Lisl Prendergast, Sacred Heart College Principal

Thank you very much for your assistance with this difficult task, and for the thoroughly objective and professional manner in which the evaluations have been carried out.

—Dr Barry Newcombe, Van Asch Deaf Education Centre Principal

..... it has been very affirming working with you.

—Glenys Rogers, Mangaroa School Principal

I appreciated [the] insightfulness and clarity of thinking around current educational issues.

—Dawn Ackroyd, St Oran’s College Principal

Firstly Thankyou for your professionalism and insight....quite often, despite the fact I do have ‘people’ I can offload to, I don’t get the rigor to which you have applied to the context which I am in. This [report] is very well written, is very supportive and more than fair. You are very perceptive, not only because you know the constant pressures of the role.

—John Taylor-Smith, Miramar Central School Principal

We will certainly be able to use and adapt the Self-Review material.....A really high value day for us - great stuff!

—Peter Durrant, Upper Hutt School, Principal

This is a very positive and affirming report. Thank you for your generous understanding of this team and the work we have achieved together. You have captured the essence of a very professional and open teaching team. Thank you for your appraisal, it is very helpful to get a glimpse of my work through another pair of eyes such as yours. I am proud of what this team has achieved, it has been a privilege to work alongside them as they took up the challenges this year. ..... you gave me a big challenge. It has been a privilege to work with you again, it is a distinct advantage to work with you as you have undertaken the role that I hold and can therefore identify key areas for focus and growth, and understand the complexities of the role - this year is clear evidence of this..

—Mary Jones, Pukerua Bay School Principal

An enlightened preparation talk on ERO ..... great style of delivery which had my staff spellbound.

—Graham Conner, Kapiti School Principal

I was delighted to receive your report on Friday. I have to say that I am hugely impressed by the fact that you were able to produce the report so quickly for me. I am very pleased with the content..... I have really enjoyed working with you this year and would really like to work with you again next year as I believe that I have gained a lot from the process and know that we can add to the work we have done this year.

—Laura Snowden, Paraparaumu School Principal

Wow. That [appraisal report] is amazing Bryan. I am staggered that you could gain so much insight in the space of time you had.

—Mike Bain, Te Mata School Principal

Everyone said how valuable they found your session. Looks like they will be asking for extra staff development meetings without me having to coerce them .... and that’s got to be good. I thought you were marvellous and so did the staff. Personally I found both our sessions this week very worthwhile. Thanks for leaving me feeling positive and confident about all we are trying to achieve at Paparangi.

—Sue Blyther, Paparangi School Principal