Sarah Hynds

Contact Sarah

+64 021 240 2941

sarahhynds@educationgroup.co.nz

About Sarah

BA, Grad Dip Tchg, GCI Accredited Coach, EMMC Practitioner

“Sarah has been foundational in helping me drive that vision.

We believe one of the reasons why Sarah has been so instrumental in the culture shift within our school is because she’s not long been out of a principalship herself.”

Marie Todd

Principal, Churchill Park School

About Sarah

Sarah is an experienced leader known for developing high-performing teams and supporting emerging leaders. As Principal of Karaka School in South Auckland, she embedded Assessment for Learning across the school, creating a model of practice for others. Her strengths include leading organisational change, coaching and mentoring, curriculum design, assessment systems, collaborative inquiry, and building inclusive, improvement-focused cultures.

As co-lead of a 13-school Kāhui Ako, she introduced GROWTH Coaching to strengthen leadership and pedagogy, wrote the Achievement Plan, and more recently led the Kāhui Ako strategic plan. She also worked alongside the Education Review Office during its transition to the new Evaluation Framework, helping schools strengthen internal evaluation, capability, systems, and pedagogical practice.

Sarah works confidently with Senior and Middle Leaders, Kāhui Ako, and teachers in organisational improvement, strategic planning, curriculum development, pedagogy, coaching, leadership development and Professional Growth Cycles. She is deeply committed to ākonga wellbeing and achievement.

A passionate educator and coach, Sarah builds trusting, respectful relationships grounded in whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, pono and hiranga. Her coaching approach empowers others to set meaningful goals, gain new perspectives, and achieve positive transformation.

Sarah’s Work

Sarah’s Workshops

Empowering school administration and front-office staff to strengthen customer service, communication, teamwork and wellbeing.

Who is this for?

Office

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 5 Mar 2026 Palmerston North – 22 Apr 2026 Auckland – 20 Aug 2026

Master evidence-based coaching skills through this immersive workshop that will transform how you lead conversations, build trust and drive student outcomes in educational settings.

Who is this for?

Middle Leaders

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 17 & 18 Mar and 26 & 27 May 2026 Auckland – 28 & 29 Jul and 22 & 23 Sep 2026

Become a high-quality mentor who empowers others through balanced guidance, improved conversational skills and coaching techniques.

Who is this for?

Middle Leaders,Senior Leadership Team,Teachers

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 19 Feb 2026 Napier – 10 Mar 2026 Christchurch – 2 Jun 2026 Dunedin – 29 Jul 2026 Wellington – 9 Sep 2026

Learn about Growth Coaching International’s proven ‘relationships to results’ methodology for coaching individuals and teams in education settings.

Who is this for?

Deans,HODs,Middle Leaders,Principals,Senior Leadership Team,Teachers

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 2 & 3 Mar 2026 – Auckland – 29 & 30 Apr 2026 Hamilton – 29 & 30 Apr 2026 Dunedin – 6 & 7 May 2026 Wellington – 11 & 12 May 2026 Tauranga – 18 & 19 May 2026 Christchurch – 19 & 20 May 2026 Palmerston North – 21 & 22 May 2026 Auckland – 9 & 10 Sep 2026

Equips senior school leaders with the practical strategies, confidence, and insight needed to lead sustainable change, navigate resistance and build a culture of growth aligned with their school’s vision.

Who is this for?

Deans,HODs,Middle Leaders,Senior Leadership Team

Area of Learning:

Leadership

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 4 June 2026

This workshop equips leaders with practical, confidence-building strategies to handle difficult conversations constructively, manage under-performance and lead respectful, solutions-focused dialogue.

Who is this for?

Deans,HODs,Middle Leaders,Senior Leadership Team

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Napier – 9 Mar 2026 Auckland – 17 Mar 2026 Dunedin – 8 May 2026 Wellington – 13 May 2026 Tauranga – 20 May 2026 Christchurch – 29 May 2026 Auckland – 4 Aug 2026 Rotorua – 4 Sep 2026

Step into or strengthen your middle leadership role with this practical two-day course which explores leadership approaches and develops a range of essential skills.

Who is this for?

Middle Leaders,Senior Leadership Team

Area of Learning:

Leadership

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 23 Feb & 23 Mar 2026 Auckland – 27 & 28 May 2026 Christchurch – 27 & 28 Jul 2026 Dunedin – 30 & 31 Jul 2026 Whāngarei – 2 & 3 Sep 2026 Rotorua – 7 & 8 Sep 2026 Wellington – 9 & 10 Nov 2026

Gain practical, science-backed strategies you can apply immediately to boost student engagement, reduce cognitive overload and improve learner outcomes.

Who is this for?

Deans,HODs,Middle Leaders,Principals,Senior Leadership Team,Teachers

Area of Learning:

Practice, Pedagogy & Curriculum

Dates and Locations:

Christchurch – 2 & 3 Mar 2026 Auckland – 18 & 19 Mar 2026 Palmerston North – 23 & 24 Apr 2026 Whāngarei – 27 & 28 May 2026 Online – 22 & 23 Oct 2026

Refine your coaching expertise by integrating proven Solutions Focus coaching methods that shift conversations from problems to progress and empower creative thinking.

Who is this for?

Deans,HODs,Middle Leaders,Principals,Senior Leadership Team,Teachers

Area of Learning:

Coaching

Dates and Locations:

Auckland – 25 & 26 Aug 2026