Warren Bowers
Charismatic and charming best describe Warren’s personality. At school Warren loved the cultural side of life – he took part in a whole range of pursuits: music, library, debating, drama etc. He says he wasn’t passionate about sport but was a reluctant member of the worst boys’ hockey team in 3rd and 4th form. His one highlight was a kayaking elective with Mr Fenton where they would go out one afternoon a week to various rivers and streams around Matamata and “make a splash”.
Warren gained SC, UE, HSC and in 1985 left school and headed to USA on a Rotary Exchange year. He believes this was the most formative year of his life. It gave him confidence, self-esteem and courage to the face the future with resilience and also gave him a passion for travel.
Returning from the US he headed to Hamilton Teachers College 1986 and graduated with a Teaching Diploma in 1990. Warren later completed a BA from Auckland University in 1995 and just last year 2011, he graduated with a Master of Educational Leadership and Administration from Deakin University, Australia. He completed this degree part time and claims this to be a big achievement. It took four years to complete – he would get up early and do an hour of study before going to work. That was good advice from his father who said if it was difficult to find time to study, take it from your sleep time – it worked!
He has had a varied working life mainly centred around education. He has taught in primary schools in Wellington, Auckland, Tauranga and even a short stint at his old school, Firth Primary. When travelling in the 90s he spent a couple of years doing supply teaching in London. Back in NZ Warren took a job with the Life Education Trust for five years which is a health-based programme for primary and intermediate schools. From 2003/04 he started his international teaching career. Firstly in Phnom Penh where he taught with his great mate from Matamata College, Rachael Carter. His next position was Singapore where he taught for two years before his move to Hanoi International School working with ex-Matamata College teacher, Terry Hamilton. Warren is Vice Principal and Head of Elementary at the Hanoi school and Terry is the Principal of the school. (Terry taught Warren Social Studies in F4!) Warren loves his job. He enjoys the people and as well as teaching students from many different cultures he associates with all walks of life – teachers, parents, kids, politicians and business people – the variety makes every day interesting.
Warren loves travel and exploring new places and seeing how different people live. Living overseas has opened so many opportunities to visit interesting places and he says he never takes freedom for granted.
One achievement Warren noted was completing the Angkor Wat half marathon – running through the ruined temples of Angkor Wat as the sun came up was quite spectacular.
For Warren life is great. He is fortunate and grateful for many things – many great friends, a loving extended family, a solid relationship, good health and a job he loves. He manages to get back to NZ often – his parents, John and Shelley now live in Gisborne as does his sister Janine and her husband and three kids. Janine has also followed in the footsteps of Dad and is a teacher and brother Simon works in Auckland. Warren’s partner Michael is also a teacher!
Whenever people are around Warren there is always a good laugh!!