Make a difference
Explore the frontiers of modern education, discover new pedagogies for an online world, and be inspired by the world's best teachers.
Meet the fellows.
Kaiako, English
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
An experienced English, classics and religious education teacher based in Wellington. Helen teaches English, Classical Studies and Religious Studies to senior students at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. Most of the time, the teaching and learning is one-on-one online, but sometimes she runs online classes for senior students in schools where the subject is not offered. Helen has her Master of Teaching degree and is now midway through her doctorate, developing connections and investigating solutions to the timeless question of student engagement.
Head of English
Te Aratai College
Jodine is passionate about issues of equity in education and this is something she will be focusing on in her independent research throughout 2023, with an investigative case study that sheds fascinating light on the reality of how culturally responsive education is on a journey. Working towards her Masters in Secondary School Leadership, she investigates the concept of privilege and silencing, which goes hand and hand with colonisation. Through a fascinating case study, she highlights the background of her school's journey with racism and talks about the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy.
Kaiako, Mathematics
St Cuthbert's College
Jessica Sheng is a mathematics teacher and Deputy Dean of Dunblane House at St Cuthbert's College, Auckland. With an MBA already in hand, she is currently pursuing her passion and studying towards a Master of Professional Studies in Mathematics Education with the University of Auckland. She is fascinated by how teachers can help students to learn not only the fundamentals of mathematics but how to develop resilience and an ability to deal with failure and adversity as part of the learning process.
Kaiako, Supported Learning
Northcote College
Alex Jespersen (she/her) is a 2023 recipient of the TeachNZ study grant, and with a PhD and two master's degrees in hand already is an experienced academic and committed lifelong learner. This year she is focussing on studying towards her Masters of Education Practice at the University of Auckland, specialising in inclusive education. Working in inclusive education at the secondary school level, she is motivated by questions around young people's sense of agency and self-determination in supported learning contexts, questions around what shared understandings we hold - and could foster - as to what is meant by 'inclusive education' and its possibilities, and a lot of care and attention towards what recent and upcoming policy shifts in the area of learning support might mean for akonga and their school communities.
Kaiako, Te reo Māori
Glendowie College
Melisa Chase is a kaiako at Glendowie College with an absolute passion for Te Reo Māori and for growth through learning. This year, she is studying towards her PGCert in Digital and Collaborative Learning with The Mind Lab while also learning Karanga, Karanga Rā with Rhonda Tibble at the Hina Collective, and investigating Te Matahīapo at Ngā Whare Waatea Marae, Mangere. She intends to continue her studies and work towards a master's degree. Her reasons for studying are heartfelt and deeply meaningful and speak to her journey of decolonisation and reclamation of Tino Rangatiratanga.
Kaiako, Samoan,
Manurewa High School
Lindalaurosa is studying towards her Masters in Secondary School Leadership at Victoria University, looking at areas of literacy amongst our Pasifika learners and what different teaching methods can be implemented in schools to increase literacy amongst our Pasifika learners at the secondary school level. Questions she is investigating include; Why are our Pasifika learners struggling with literacy skills? What can we do as a school to support our Pasifika learners to achieve their literacy skills? What digital tools can we implement in our classes and in our schools that will support their learning of these skills?
Authentic Conversations.
This year, we're fortunate to introduce the EP Fellowship, a scholarship supporting teachers studying towards post-graduate qualifications. Over the course of the year, these outstanding teachers will share their thoughts on the state of education, pose questions, and propose solutions. They're in the classroom, at the coalface, and their thoughts and observations are some of the most relevant, and up-to-date research that you will read this year.
What helps students to learn against the backdrop of a changing world? How can digital technologies transform learning while retaining the importance of personal relationships? What data is the most important and how can it be used effectively? What causes anxiety in students studying mathematics? Why are teachers at risk of burnout? These are the types of questions that the fellows seek to explore. We seek contributions from educators across the globe, raise questions that are designed to spark discussion, and engage with the world's most passionate educators. If you're an educator, read on, you're with your people.
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