Kia ora, my name is Matthew Jackson and I am honoured to be the Principal of Piripiri School.  This is my first time as a principal, but I’ve been the Senior School Team Leader and a teacher at Te Kauwhata Primary School and before for that a teacher at Jean Batten School, in Mangere, Auckland. My background is in Political Marketing, and in 2014 I completed a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, followed in 2015 by a Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Practice (Digital and Collaborative Learning). I am passionate about making learning relevant to students and am an advocate for the importance of Education Outside The Classroom. I enjoy making connections with students and their whānau, and strive every day to help them achieve success. 

My wife, Luanna, and I were very excited to make the move into the King Country and are both loving the quiet countryside and fresh air, with our cats George and Bonnie. 

Outside of my career in education, I’ve been a Commissioned Officer in the New Zealand Cadet Forces for the past 13 years and was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal in 2022.  My current appointment is as Area Support Officer for the Waikato Region, supporting cadet units from Te Awamutu to Thames. In 2019 I won gold at the New Zealand Teachers’ Games for Clay Target Shooting and have coached Smallbore Target Rifle Shooting.  I enjoy opportunities to explore New Zealand to learn about the regions and what they have to offer.

Piripiri School is a beautiful, rural school and everyday we strive to uphold our vision of "empowering life-long learners together".  Our Piripiri P.R.I.D.E Values underpin everything we do and our strong focus on individual progress and wellbeing helps support our students to grow.  As a staff we are a small team of 'learners' who, like our students, learn from each other and welcome all opportunities to continue to grow as educators and people.

My door is always open and you are welcome to get in touch in the way that best works for you.