Ngā mihi mahana ki a koe 

Unteach Racism launched in May, and I want to acknowledge those of you who have already begun working with the material. Many thousands have viewed Taika Waititi’s video, where he reflects on his experience as a child going to school in NZ and then asks you as teachers, to help unteach racism. Thousands have also checked out the resources on the website and have downloaded the app and are working through the modules.  

This isn’t new ground for many of you. Many teachers are already doing so much to celebrate diversity and ensure children and young people feel they belong and are valued – which opens the doors for learners to flourish no matter what the subject.  

Unteach Racism builds on and supports this work.  

Give it a try. 

Visit the website for the app, resources and more.

Teacher discipline - who decides the outcome?

Teaching Council staff don’t make decisions about disciplinary matters.

Teachers, lawyers, and lay people do.  

When a teacher has allegedly engaged in misconduct they are investigated and can be referred to the Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC), and for more serious cases, the Disciplinary Tribunal. We are currently hiring teachers as panel members for these disciplinary bodies. 

Three experienced, registered teachers from a range of sectors (ECE, primary, secondary) and a lay person consider issues of misconduct. Panel members can decide no further action, censure, conditions, or refer the teacher to the Disciplinary Tribunal. 

Interested in becoming a panel member? Email us to show your interest and receive more information.

The New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal considers serious teacher misconduct cases. Hearings are formal procedures, like a court hearing. A panel of three people – a lawyer and experienced teachers – will hear the case and decide the outcome such as censure, conditions, or cancellation.  

Interested in becoming a panel member? Email us to show your interest and receive more information.

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We have three webinar topics for you to join. 

Casual relievers and PGC  

For teachers, who do casual relief work, it can be challenging to engage in a Professional Growth cycle. Learn about other options and the expectations for when applying for Pūmau | Full (Category Two) Practising Certificate (previously known as Subject to Confirmation). 

See available dates 

Small schools/ECE services  

This is for teachers, professional leaders and principals in small schools and centres completing the Professional Growth Cycle 'Element A' - "meeting and using the Standards | Ngā Paerewa in your setting". We know this is a more onerous task when you have fewer colleagues to collaborate and share ideas with. Join one of these webinar sessions where we facilitate the group to work towards completing this element. 

See available dates 

Replacing appraisal 

These sessions are for teachers, principals and ECE professional leaders to learn more about the professional growth cycle for teachers. 

See available dates 

Join the community of meaningful conversations between teachers on Hapori Matatū | Online Community. Be heard, share your knowledge, and connect with colleagues from all over the country. 

Recent discussion topics: 

• Improving biculturalism at preschool 

• Wellness and leadership 

• Improving staff morale 

• PLD (Professional Learning and Development) ideas for emotional and mental wellbeing for under 5s 

Log in and check it out.

I have recently been appointed as Tumuaki in Residence at Teaching Council | Matatū Aotearoa. It is a new role that I realise has a great deal of responsibility. I have been an educator for nearly 30 years, with educational leadership experience for 20 of those years and 15 years as a Tumuaki. I have also had the privilege of being the President of Te Akatea NZ Māori Principals Assn for the last 3 ½ years with 8 years on the Te Akatea executive with roles as Treasurer and Vice President. 

My role with Teaching Council | Matatū Aotearoa is to provide a Māori Educational Leadership perspective, advice, and guidance within the mahi that Teaching Council | Matatū Aotearoa is engaging in. I will continue to challenge the Council to ensure that it meets the values and standards that it is entrusted to uphold within the profession and in particular responsibility to meet obligations as a true partner under Te Tiriti. As an independent contractor I retain the ability to have a voice to challenge any aspect within the organisation that does not meet those obligations. 

I am excited by this opportunity and happy to say, without any duress, how amazingly passionate and dedicated the team at Teaching Council | Matatū Aotearoa are. I expected a workforce 3 times larger because of the work that this group of very talented and experienced have managed to achieve. I am pleased to report that every single person that I have come across here is dedicated to equitable outcomes and success for Māori. Also, for all groups that are marginalised by our current system. This group is passionate about upholding the mana of our profession. 

A key part of my role initially will be to go out to the compulsory sector and ECE to canvass the opinions and ideas of Māori in English medium towards Rauhuia | Leadership Space and on the Professional Leaders Professional Growth Cycle (PGC). I am planning to get out to areas that are not often visited to engage with Māori educators about the kaupapa mentioned. I will also be hosting Zoom hui and am coordinating a survey that we are hoping our Māori whanau will engage with. 

Please keep an eye out for dates for hui near you or if you can host a hui near you, please email me at myles.ferris@teachingcouncil.nz.