Yaron Overeem

I was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand to my parents Hank and Hilda Overeem, both who were dutch immigrants.

I moved around New Zealand a lot as a child before the family settled in Havelock North. I attended Havelock North High School and then attended Bethlehem Teachers Collage where I gained my Diploma of teaching and Bachelor of Education. It is also where I met my wife Rebecca (Becky). My wife and I were married in 1999 and now have two wonderful daughters.  (Chloe and Sophie)

My first teaching job was at Onerahi Primary School in Whangarei. I spent 5 years there developing my teaching skills and implementing ICT into my classroom and developing ICT systems within the school. Here I also learnt much of my technical skills.

In 2007 I won a position as ICT Professional Development Facilitator for the Whangarei South ICT PD Cluster, made up of 6 rural school in the Whangrarei area. The project was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

My job was to develop a professional development program that would encourage teachers to use ICT in the classroom to improve teaching and learning.

The Project finished at the end of 2009 but I was re-employed by four of the school to carry on the program out side of the Ministry contract. I also took up three days classroom teaching at Ruakaka Primary School to fill my week.

ICT Statement

As the world around us changes teachers are faced with the daunting task of changing their teaching practices to a new way of thinking where technology plays an ever growing part.
Their students now live in a world where they have any time, anywhere access to masses of information. Teachers are no longer the source of information but the supplier of opportunity.