Teachers Matter

Media Release
30 October 2008
Teachers Matter

Teachers, pupils and parents celebrating World Teachers’ Day on Friday all agree ‘Teachers Matter’, particularly those who know the ten teachers named national recipients in the NEiTA Foundation’s 2008 National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards.

Crystal apples and professional development grants totaling $35,000 have been awarded to five leaders and five teachers, among 271 teachers initially nominated by parents and students, and who have progressed through stages of the awards programme to become national recipients.

Leadership Award recipients are: Karen Ramsey, Roskill South Kindergarten, Auckland $5,000; Ramila Sadikeen, Brooklands Kindergarten New Plymouth $5,000; Geraldine Travers,
Hastings Girls’ High School $2,500; Judy Dixon, Frankton Primary School, Hamilton $2,500; and Wendy Kofoed, Newmarket Primary School, Auckland $2,500.

Teaching Award recipients are: Fenella Colyer, Manurewa High School, Auckland $5,000; Bastienne Kruger, Oruaiti Primary School, Northland $5,000; Moeke Paaka, Motueka High School $2,500; Tessa Dunleavy, Devonport Community Creche, Auckland $2,500; and Scott Haines, Ashburton College $2,500.

Convenor of the NEiTA Foundation’s selection panel, Brother Pat Lynch, says the recipients all plan to use their grants to observe or develop educational programmes that will benefit students at their schools. Some will travel, some will take time out to work on specific projects but all grants will benefit the recipients, their colleagues, pupils and others in the educational community.

“It is so pleasing to see such success shared; as pupils learn from teachers, teachers learn from each other. This is the basis of how teachers operate – a sharing of ideas, knowledge, skills
and expertise.

“The UNESCO theme for World Teachers’ Day 2008, ‘Teachers Matter’, and the NEiTA Foundation awards programme have the same objectives – acknowledging the vital contribution that teachers make to the education and development of children,” says Pat Lynch.

The NEiTA Foundation’s National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards are jointly supported by ASG Programs New ZealandTM, a trans-Tasman not-for-profit organisation that helps parents to plan for their children’s education and, and Multiserve Education Trust, a local charitable trust which is an independent provider of a range of support services to schools and
the wider education sector.

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