Apples for excellence

15 November 2012

Apples for excellence

Crystal apples and professional development grants totaling $35,000 are now in the hands of ten national recipients of the NEiTA Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards as school communities in cities and country towns gather to celebrate the success of their teachers.

Cognition Education Leadership Award recipients are: Carol Hartley, Mangere Bridge Kindergarten, Auckland; Aroaro Tamati, Te Kōpae Piropino Māori Immersion Early Childhood Education, New Plymouth; Chris Riley, Tawhiti Primary School, Hawera; Erin Cairns, Ruru Specialist School, Invercargill; and Susan Hassall, Hamilton Boys’ High School. Carol Hartley and Susan Hassall were awarded $5,000 professional development grants, the others $2,500 grants.

ASG Education Programs Teaching Award recipients are: Cheryl Kingi, Kerikeri Kindergarten, Northland; Patrick Boyle, Clyde Street Kindergarten, Tokoroa; teaching team Francis and Kelly Pye, Frankton Primary School, Hamilton; Perenise Tapu, McAuley High School, Auckland; and Gareth Bell, Freyberg High School, Palmerston North. Patrick Boyle and teaching team Francis and Kelly Pye were awarded $5,000 professional development grants, the others $2,500 grants.

Convenor of the NEiTA Foundation’s selection panel, Brother Pat Lynch, says it is pleasing to see that excellent teachers and leaders are spread through the education community.

“Waikato and Taranaki teachers featured strongly with three $5,000 professional development grants awarded to Waikato teachers representing the early childhood, primary and secondary sectors. Two Taranaki teachers received leadership awards, one from an early childhood centre and the other from a country primary school.

“Diversity was also a strong feature with teaching awards to: a job-sharing husband and wife teaching team; a Samoan Matai; and a grandfather who trained as an early childhood teacher after a 30-year business career. In the leadership category awards went to: the principal of a special education school; and the co-director of a Māori immersion early childhood centre,” he says.

The recipients all plan to use their grants to further their study or observe and develop educational programmes that will benefit students, parents and colleagues at their schools.

“It is so pleasing to see such success shared, as pupils learn from teachers and teachers learn from each other. Excellent leaders and teachers share ideas, knowledge, skills and expertise.

“We received 617 nominations, and it is wonderful to see public recognition of the teaching profession and those who excel,” says Pat Lynch.

The NEiTA Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards are jointly supported by ASG Education Programs New Zealand, which assists parents to plan for their children’s future education, and Cognition Education a leading independent educational services company whose mission is to enhance lives through education.

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