Kate Fitzgerald is in her sixth year at Marsden, where she wears several hats — Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) Coordinator within the Personalised Learning Department, Teacher Aide, and staff representative for Rowing. She thrives on the variety of her days, supporting students across Years 7–13 and working closely with teachers, reader/writer volunteers, NZQA, and the Exam Centre team to ensure students are well prepared and supported to succeed in assessments. Her dual role gives her a unique insight into individual student needs and how best to meet them.

Background

Before joining Marsden, Kate had a successful career as a professional athlete, representing New Zealand in rowing at Junior, U23, and Elite levels - including winning silver at the World Rowing Championships. Alongside her sporting career, she worked in various units within the NZ Police and later trained as an Intelligence Analyst for the Department of Internal Affairs. Her career has also included running a family business and community volunteering, including co-founding Predator Free Karori and supporting Bellyful Wellington West.

Kate brings all this experience to her work at Marsden, along with a deep commitment to student wellbeing and learning. She has undertaken further training to support neurodivergent learners and is proud to help students grow in confidence and resilience. A self-confessed homebody outside of school, Kate enjoys DIY projects, gardening, and time with her family. Her home is a warm, lived-in space filled with good food, laughter, and the occasional load of washing — her family insists she's very passionate about laundry!