Awards cap off school year for six NEiTA teachers

Media Release
10 November 2006

Awards cap off school year for six NEiTA teachers

While most of their pupils are in the throes of examinations, six exceptional teachers will cap off the school year as national recipients of ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTAs).

Two Auckland early childhood teachers, Doreen Attwood of Omana Kindergarten in Papatoetoe and Maree Moselen of Next Generation Childcare Centre in Birkenhead received NEiTAs with Doreen Attwood also being awarded an ASG professional development grant.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato teachers took three NEiTAs: Vicki Knell, a year 7 and 8 primary teacher at Omokoroa Point School in Tauranga; Anjali Khurana, a mathematics teacher at Whakatane High School; and Julie Yeoman of Maeroa Intermediate School in Hamilton. ASG professional development grants were also awarded to Julie Yeoman and Anjali Khurana.

In the South Island, Motueka High School’s Peter Allan, a technology teacher, received a NEiTA.

As the National Excellence in Teaching Awards enter their second decade in New Zealand, with 42 national recipient teachers over that period, ASG will be joined by Multi Serve Education Trust in sponsoring the awards. Under this new joint agreement, school communities will be able to nominate outstanding teachers and outstanding school leaders in two award categories for the 2007 awards.

Nominations for the 2007 NEiTA Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards are now open. Nominations can be made online at www.neita.com Forms are also available from the NEiTA Foundation or can be downloaded from the NEiTA website.

Nomination kits will be posted to all schools and early childhood education services in February 2007.

Closing date for nominations is 28 September 2007.

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For further information: Marika Venter, NZ Secretariat, NEiTA Foundation, Auckland
Ph: 09 366 7670, fax: 09 373 2030; email: neita@asg.co.nz

Issued by: Joanne Ruscoe, Ruscoe Public Relations, Wellington
Ph: 04 472 4102, mobile 0274 925 733; email: joanne@rpr.co.nz

Following: List of NEiTA national recipients, their biographical information, and their schools

ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)
2006 National Award Recipients

Early Childhood

Doreen Attwood joined Omana Kindergarten, Papatoetoe, five years ago, and was promoted to Head Teacher two years later. During this time the kindergarten has flourished and now has a substantial waiting list. Doreen promulgates the Reggio Emilia early childhood teaching philosophy and in 2004 travelled to Italy to study its methods.
Recipient of a $2,500 Professional Development Grant

Maree Moselen teaches at the Next Generation Childcare Centre in Birkenhead, Auckland. She is highly regarded as a dedicated teacher who takes every opportunity to expand on her knowledge through courses and seminars. Parents speak warmly of the caring and positive teaching environment Maree promotes.

Primary / Intermediate

Vicki Knell teaches at Omokoroa Point School, Tauranga, where her energy and enthusiasm for teaching exposes her Year 7 and 8 students to a variety of opportunities including Wearable Arts, maths, speech and design competitions. A role model who sets high standards, Vicki provides a nurturing and adventurous environment for her class.

Julie Yeoman of Maeroa Intermediate School, Hamilton, brings a stimulating and positive environment to her classroom, encouraging her Year 7 and 8 students to support one another to success. Encouraged to achieve beyond their self-expectations, the students thrive academically and develop new strength of character.
Recipient of a $5,000 Professional Development Grant

Secondary

Peter Allan teaches technology and hard materials at Motueka High School, where he is also form dean – and also gives freely of his time in extra-curricular and community activities. He has the trust and respect of his students, who seek him out for dependable advice; and builds a good rapport with their parents, supporting them in the difficult job of raising teenagers.

Anjali Khurana imparts her subject – mathematics – to the students of Whakatane High School with thoroughness and professionalism. She readily assists students needing further help in lunch and after-school sessions, and has had astounding results in raising the achievement in mathematics in Year 10 Maori students, through a programme of teacher professional development called Te Kotahitanga.
Recipient of a $2,500 Professional Development Grant

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