Barbara Roper

In March 2024, Papanui High School in Christchurch farewelled ACE Coordinator Barbara Roper. Barbara was part of the ACE team at the school for 37 years, ensuring a strong delivery of ongoing classes and courses, from cookery through to fabric crafts and ceramic and stone crafts.

Barbara started her ACE career as a typing tutor when her children were young and evening learning was widely known as “night school”. Her skills were quickly recognised and she was asked to take on additional hours to provide administrative support. During her 37 years Barbara says she experienced significant change in the system, including funding, course popularity and delivery methodology, but the desire for people to learn new skills has stayed consistent.

All the best for your retirement Barbara.

Melanie Jane

Melanie Jane is the newly appointed ACE Coordinator at Papanui High School. Melanie, who started the role in late January 2024, has had a long career in the education sector, with a particular passion for adult education.

She was previously the ACE Coordinator at Linwood College and taught adult literacy, but with funding cuts to adult education several years ago she made the call to branch out and retrain in other areas.

“I trained as a pre-school teacher and worked in this sector for some years, but my heart has always been in adult education, so I was delighted when this role became available. I am looking forward to reacquainting myself with the ACE sector and further building on the highly successful programme at Papanui High School that Barbara Roper developed over many years. I have very big boots to fill, but I’m loving the challenge!”