Services

Linda and her team led one of best professional learning experiences I have been involved with in my many roles in secondary schools. The Growing Great Leaders Level 1 course has given me clear artefacts in the form of templates and flow charts to use in a range of situations. I would highly recommend this course to all leadership teams to engage with.

‍

Martin Bennett

“We are very grateful to you and the Tui Tuia Learning Circle team for all the support and assistance provided to the MSU Global EPLP participants over the past several months. The collaborative efforts involved in planning, organizing, and preparing for the October New Zealand field experience resulted in a very successful 2023 program.

‍

The positive comments and sincere expressions of appreciation made during our wrap-up call yesterday are indicative of the impact of this years’ experience. Thanks again for your efforts and your friendship.  We look forward to future collaboration opportunities.” 

‍

Dan Schultz, MSU College of Education

"It's scientific, it's based on evidence, and it's tailored. The lens is a Principal CEO lens so it's mindful of the many balls that we have in the air. I really like how it's linked to science and physiology and anatomy and that speaks to me. It is really evidence-based and it references medical journals. It's very practical; I feel like I've left the sessions with really pragmatic things that I can implement straight away and it's actually had an impact on me straight away."

‍

Paula Wine, Principal/Tumuaki of Woodstock Primary School, Hamilton

"It was challenging, which I think is what we needed. t's probably one of the best things that you will do to build your leadership capacity. I've got a new belief in myself as a leader."

‍

Kimberley Malloy, Team Leader at Peninsula Primary School

"So from a Principal that was a non believer on arrival to now a Principal that now has a teacher in training (to ensure sustainability and continue to share the program across the school), a believer that it certainly gives our students a fighting chance, and closes the learning gaps as they move on, I definitely support it!"

‍

Clara Tuifao, Principal - St Michael's School, TAITA

"The Tapasā facilitators were fantastic. We had a variety of people from Tui Tuia and they understood teachers. And that's something that's really really important to bring that mana and credibility to a group of teachers, and to accommodate in a new way with a variety of activities that engaged us so we all had a greater understanding of the different Pasifika cultures."

‍

Ray Green, Deputy Principal, Sancta Maria College

"Otaika Valley School had the privilege of working with Dr Lisa Watson last year developing our Te Reo school wide programme. Lisa immediately put all teachers and myself as principal at ease as developing learners. The hands-on modelling and support within classrooms was a standout and transformed into a commitment and confidence for all."

‍

Terry Brock, Principal, Otaika Valley School

It's so inspiring and I really learn more from it. I really enjoy attending every single online Workshop or face-to-face ones.

"I recently had the opportunity of observing our Reading Recovery teacher working with a student that I had referred. I was amazed at his progress. When I first sat down with this student, he had very little phonological and phonemic awareness. His learning was inconsistent, and he was often unable to know letters and sounds from one day to the next. Now this student has many tools in his Kete. He is able to decode unknown sounds and words thus reading bigger words. He now comprehends what he is reading and is able to add intonation while he reads. Probably the biggest achievement and the one that he is most proud of is his ability to write short stories."

‍

Sally Van der Weele - Learning Support Co-ordinator at Plateau Primary, Te Mārua, Upper Hutt

I recently attended the two-day Open to Learning Leadership workshop and found it to be hugely valuable.

It provided me with a framework to explore my own beliefs and how they inform my actions (or inactions) and therefore the way in which I engage in conversations, or perhaps avoid conversations.  It challenged me around the ‘undiscussables’ that exist within groups and organisations, and how we owe our colleagues the respect of surfacing these in a respectful way but perhaps don’t always have the tools to do this.

‍

Celia Fleck

“Developing cultural responsiveness in our teaching practices empowers our educators to enhance their understanding for our young Pasifika children, families and communities. It’s important for us to be aware of our interactions to empower our Pasifika families to know they have a place”.

‍

Deborah Jones, Head Teacher, Irongate Kindergarten

I have been able to deepen my understanding on Leadership, understand the new research and build a good ground on which to inspire my team.

Alexandra has a very warm and welcoming nature and is able to connect people. She is also very well organised and presents her innovative ideas such as the Stofftaschenproject clearly.

‍

‍

The PLD with Dr Lisa Watson has significantly improved the teacher's knowledge of Mātauranga Māori, therefore broadening ākonga/students’ Mātauranga Māori. The knowledge that Lisa shared was invaluable. This improved teaching and learning programmes because teachers had a much better understanding of the topics.  Lisa also shared many excellent resources that teachers were able to use in their classroom programmes. This had a very positive effect on ākonga/students’ engagement and outcomes.  

‍

Dr Lisa facilitated in the planning of Social Sciences and Science units of learning based on the Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories curriculum, which has been of huge benefit. She has removed the hurdles, and the deficits that some teachers may have previously had. In addition to the work with teachers, Lisa worked with school leadership to develop a Māori Education Plan; she has also worked alongside us with the local schools and hāpū (Ngāti Rēhia) to begin developing a plan and set of resources for the local schools.  Her input has been invaluable and will certainly impact on the lives of our ākonga/students now and in years to come.

‍

Alison Ayr, Deputy Principal, Riverview School

"Farm Cove Intermediate is loving working on the Tapasā project with the Tui Tuia team! We are inspired by the bespoke programme that is being curated to meet our context. Thank you for the respectful and skilled manner in which you are guiding us on our journey."

‍

Amanda Jaeger, Deputy Principal Tumuaki Tuarua

"Our school has worked alongside Marian for a number of years now.  She understands the challenges and pitfalls for our staff and works hard to support, encourage and resource our team on our individual and collective journeys.  Because of her fresh, passionate and personable approach to PLD, we are always excited to see what new learning she has in store for us all."

‍
Michelle Brown, Principal Waipipi School

Just lots of practical, accessible activities and ideas that I can use in the classroom. Great bank of resources in the Padlet. Great cultural resources shared.

"Taradale Intermediate has had the honour of having Sharron Fabish as part of our whānau at Taradale Intermediate for the past 7 years. Sharron has worked alongside our kaiako, guiding, mentoring and facilitating the journey we have been on with Te Reo and Te Ao Māori and a specific focus in the past 2 years of developing our Culturally Responsive and Relational Pedagogy.  Sharron’s approach is grounded in whanaungatanga and manaakitanga which has brought about a passion and a commitment, in our kaiako, to be part of this challenge to make a real difference in the lives of our ākonga."

‍

Robyn Eddy, Acting Principal Taradale Intermediate

“We wanted to prioritise the older tamariki who missed out on literacy with Covid and interruptions to kura. We worked with Year Two and Year Three classes first and a Year One/Two class for the latter part of the year. Having that flexibility and being able to look at where the greatest need is has helped us implement something we think really works.

‍

Over time we’ve noticed a change in the disposition of students, and a positive approach to opportunities. You’ll now find them reading on their own and going to the library by choice. This, for me as a kura leader, is absolutely outstanding and even more important than the data because it’s changing their mindset for the future.

‍

It has been exceptional, not just for the classroom kaiako but, by osmosis, for the other adults in the room so we’ve been able to grow our pouāwhina āwhina in the classroom as well.

‍

- Vikki Rihari, Principal

"I feel more confident that my team, they have more Pasifika knowledge. I feel more confident that we are ensuring good outcomes for children. I feel confident that we're getting really good engagement with whānau  because they're appreciative and we can engage whānau because we talk about what the stories are and if they have stories and they're more engaged with us. Everybody's supportive, it's worked really well."

‍

Donna Leaf, Head Teacher at Mayfield Kindergarten

A different way of using powerpoint presentations by creating jigsaw pieces and hiding them for students to find and put together.  I have not used it in this way before, so this is a new tool in my kete.

I am better able to provide an equitable learning space for students.

I have achieved a good knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of leadership.

I learned a lot about positive and effective leadership within the education sphere, and what a good leader looks, sounds, and feels like within a school. I also got to network with lots of other teachers who shared their experiences and situations with me and had lots of advice and encouragement to share.

We have found the Reading Recovery experience excellent. Communication has been fantastic and we have felt very well-supported to encourage Jack's reading at home and continue his learning with us. Jack's reading has improved immensely and without the RR, we believe he would have struggled with reading throughout the year and this would have led to him being frustrated and distracted.,

However, because of his learning with the Reading Recovery teacher, he is committed and has applied himself, he has enjoyed reading at home and has become confident in his ability. We can't thank you enough, for supporting Jack and allowing him the opportunity with Reading Recovery. Thank you so much!

‍

Belinda Whyte, Parent - Ōhau School