Posts by Reuben
“Our job is to be a reading engagement expert” Clare Forrest, school librarian
Clare Forrest has just come out of two days of negotiating training for the school librarian pay equity claim. The process is collaborative and non-confrontational because the union negotiators train together with the Ministry of Education. She says she enjoys the training. “It’s about both sides winning. We have to look at the issues and…
Read MoreValuing our school librarians
Every day is different for Sasha Eastwood, who has been the school librarian and resource manager at Manchester Street School in Feilding for 14 years. “The best part of my job is that I get to work with students, sharing my love of reading. We’ve got 17 classes, and every class comes in each week.…
Read MoreIn person PUMs an “electric” experience
Barb Curran is in no doubt the electricity she felt in the room in Rotorua last month at Hui-ā-Tau will be replicated in Paid Union Meetings up and down Aotearoa from next Monday. She is reminding people how important it is to attend and reconnect with colleagues. “It was amazing,” says Barb, who was re-elected…
Read MoreCelebrating Tongan Language Week
Otahuhu Primary School has been a whirlwind of activity as the school celebrated Tongan Language Week with their Lalangamo’ui Tongan bilingual hub producing a cultural festival for their community on Friday. The dance and music festival forms part of the school’s annual recognition of the week and demonstrates the importance of Pasifika students being taught…
Read MoreEnough to keep going – Tumuaki Karl Vasau on why Te Ao Kei Tua is important
Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau is passionate about how Tūmeke Tumuaki can help his fellow school leaders reach into their communities this week to help build consensus for making greater change through Te Ao Kei Tua | Creating Our Future.. The week recognising the contribution of principals to their schools and communities – groups that…
Read MoreBoT and their Principal: The key relationship for improving hauora
Helping put a support network around principals and constant communication is the key to improving hauora and ensuring a strong and positive relationship between school leaders and their Board of Trustees, a governance expert believes. The latest Deakin University wellbeing survey shows that hauora continues to trend down amongst school leaders, who are increasingly burdened…
Read MoreStaffing, Funding and Hauora
Increasing the funding for more staffing and resourcing at primary schools could go a long way to reducing work demands on school leaders and help improve their feelings of hauora according to one of the authors of Deakin University’s annual wellbeing report. Dr Ben Arnold, who is in the Educator Health and Wellbeing research group…
Read MoreAll Wrung Out
“We’re kind of that stage that if we were a tea towel, we’re completely rung out… we need some extra sustenance and change to rejuvenate to get back to doing the best possible job we can for our kids.” Paul Barker has a simple metaphor to describe how he and his fellow tumuaki feel at…
Read MoreThe impact of leadership – reflections from NZEI Te Riu Roa President Liam Rutherford
Liam Rutherford often doesn’t get time to stop and reflect about how he is sitting in the sixth floor of a central Wellington office building as NZEI Te Riu Roa President, but when he does, he recognises the influence his principal Wayne Jenkins has had in getting him there. Liam has spent almost three years…
Read MoreMany hats, one tumuaki
Taneatua School principal Marama Stewart sounds a little bit out of breath down the phone from her school in eastern Bay of Plenty. “Sorry, I’ve just spent the last 30 minutes roller skating with a bunch of five-year olds,” she says. “We have someone come in every Friday just to give them a few lessons.…
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