More than 1,800 teachers build leadership capability through online programme
23 April 2026
Leadership in the teaching profession often develops informally - through experience, relationships, and stepping up when needed rather than through formal titles.
Yet for many teachers, especially those early in their careers, there have been few accessible opportunities to intentionally grow leadership capability or see themselves as leaders.
Recognising this gap, the Teaching Council developed Kia Tīparetia ki te Rauhuia - Stepping into Leadership (SITL), a culturally grounded, online leadership learning programme designed to support teachers to lead from wherever they are and to strengthen leadership capability across the profession.
Launched in 2025 and funded by the Ministry of Education, SITL is part of the Teaching Council’s Rauhuia Leadership Strategy, which aims to enable leadership at every level of the profession, support leadership growth, and strengthen collective leadership across the education system.
Since its launch, more than 1,800 teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand have taken part in SITL, exceeding initial participation targets and showing early evidence of meaningful shifts in leadership practice.
Designed for teachers with around three to five years of experience, the programme supports those beginning to influence others and take on leadership in informal ways.
Rather than focusing on positional leadership, it encourages teachers to see leadership as something they grow through mentoring, collaboration, and influence.
“You can be a leader, learning along the way - you don’t have to have a defined title,” one participant said.
Teachers complete the programme online and at their own pace, a feature many cited as critical to participation alongside busy professional and personal lives. The programme includes four modules covering self-awareness, leading others, leading change, and leading pedagogy, with around 16 hours of learning and no assessments, and a focus on practical application.
“I liked that you could go at your own speed,” another learner said. “It had things you could use straight away - practical and philosophical.”
The sector experts behind the SITL content.
The content was written by four respected sector experts - Dr Janis Carroll-Lind, Whare Isaac-Sharland, Dr Emily Nelson and Vasa Fia Collins - bringing strong cultural, leadership and professional practice perspectives.
Evaluation of the programme was guided by the Kirkpatrick model, a recognised framework for assessing learning effectiveness. Results showed strong engagement from teachers, shifts in how participants understood and approached leadership, and evidence of the learning being applied in schools and early learning centres, supporting stronger collaboration and mentoring.
As of April 2026, over 1,800 teachers had started the programme, with strong uptake from early childhood education and primary teachers. Of those participating, 89 percent said the learning would influence their practice.
Teachers also reported applying the learning in their schools, kura, and early learning services, from mentoring colleagues to approaching change with greater confidence and intention.
One participant described how the programme helped her move from leading to mentoring teachers, while embedding stronger cultural practices across her school.
“We’ve recommended that several teachers do the course. The themes help staff see that the work they’re already doing is leadership and give them tools to approach both big and micro leadership moments with confidence.”
Another participant said the programme fundamentally shifted how they work with others.
“I now lead with intention, empathy, and collaboration - and it’s changed how my team works together.”
Following the success of the launch, Stepping into Leadership is now available to all kaiako through the teacher portal | My Rawa and is becoming part of the Teaching Council’s core learning offering. In response to learner feedback, additional ways to engage with the learning are being developed, including Workshop in a Box – ready-to-use, in‑person workshop resources designed to support collaborative learning in schools and centres.
By making leadership learning accessible, and culturally grounded, the programme supports teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand to grow their leadership capability, strengthening individuals, teams, and the profession as a whole.
To access Stepping into Leadership, log in to My Rawa or see this article for more information.
