Teaching Council governance board elections
PPTA Te Wehenegarua campaigned hard for the right to have elected sector representatives on the Teaching Council board. The first elections took place in 2019 and at that time voter turnout was low, and teachers had no inkling of the conflict that would arise between the profession and its registration board over proposed fees increases.
Teachers now have a much greater appreciation of the need for strong secondary teacher and principal representation on the governance board. We would like to support any teachers who are putting themselves forward for election.
Voting for the Teaching Council elections will take place between 8 – 28 February 2022. This time has the benefit of including our week of branch-based Paid Union Meetings, at which we can allow time for members to vote.
We know of several PPTA members already who are stepping up and standing to be the secondary teacher representative. Check out their profiles below.
Are you considering standing? Let us know. We would like to support and promote you however we can. Email teachingcouncil@ppta.org.nz to let us know.
Our Candidates:
Fiona Wolff |
Michael Harvey |
Jeanne Lomax |
Mike Connor |
Fleur Wainohu |
Pip Woodward |
I live in rural Waikato with my family and teach at Morrinsville College. As the Science Learning Area Leader, I work with a strong team of science teachers and am supported by five subject associations. My networks allow me to stay up to date with many of the challenges and opportunities for our sector. I have been a member of PPTA since 2008 and I am active at a branch, region and national level. I am committed to developing respectful and functional relationships with my colleagues while being mindful of outputs and timelines.
Teaching is the best job in the world. We are so fortunate to work beside the future of Aotearoa New Zealand inspiring them to do their best, all the while upholding excellence in our profession. I am passionate about equitable educational outcomes for all and this can only come from a system where teachers feel supported and valued. When genuine, iterative consultation is prioritised at the decision-making table, our sector can have greater confidence in change. If elected to the Governing board for the Teaching Council, I would be a strong advocate for teachers from both an industrial and professional perspective.
I would be honoured to be your secondary teacher representative on the Teaching Council for the next three years.
Hailing from Turanganui a kiwa, Michael is a science educator based in Blenheim, Marlborough. He has 9 years of secondary teaching experience both nationally and internationally. Michael is passionate about having teachers’ voices heard and is an active member of the PPTA both nationally and regionally. He is also involved in both the Tanzanian Root and Shoots SDG Laboratory Schools and Kakuma refugee project which illustrates his vision that education should be a liberating experience and available to all.
Well, we have learnt to our cost the importance of taking the Teachers Council seriously. We now need to take this election very seriously and get a strong candidate on the Council to speak out on behalf of Secondary Teachers. I am hearing the protest at how long it takes to renew our practising certificates. I have experienced first-hand how difficult it is to make contact with the organization.
On the positive side, I have supported two colleagues through the Council discipline process and I was very pleased with the outcomes once they got to the higher levels of scrutiny.
We need a 21st-century professional body that we believe works in our best interest, navigating stakeholders and pedagogy so that we can focus on the difference we make in the classroom. We need to feel embraced and supported by professionals that understand what we do and who we are.
I will get in and find out; speak out and report back to you, and feedback to the Council on what you have to say. I am going part-time. I have the time to do this well.
Kia ora koutou
I do not like the Teachers’ Council. I believe most teachers feel the same. I know they have a Government mandate to do their job but we have learned a lot more about mandates in recent times – and it is not all good. The TC say they are self-funded. They are not. They are funded by teachers, who have to pay for their services, none of which we care for. I would like to be elected to hold the TC accountable to teachers. Last years fee hike shows how out of touch they are. As a person with common sense and a keen sense of justice, I am less than thrilled with the growing arms and influence of the TC on my job. I am also very surprised there is no PPTA representation as of right. So vote Mike, he’ll see you right.
I seek to strongly advocate for our profession and represent the voices of teachers and educators with integrity and honesty. The Teaching Council needs to support our profession in addressing the increasing bureaucracy that contributes to workload and stifles innovation, creativity and professional growth. We must also share the great stories, celebrate and promote the great innovations, genuine heart and commitment colleagues model every day with their resilience and incredible humility.
Strengths that I have demonstrated through both research and practice include staff and student wellbeing, leading and learning, building strong and inclusive cultural practices, creating unity in teams and growing my own and others learning through innovative agentic coaching practices. These are unpredictable and complex times that require us to think in new ways and be courageous to challenge.
I have strong relational skills, am an honest communicator and trust plays a critical role in my practice. I am confident I could offer a wide range of skills and expertise to this governance role. I am a current member of the Teaching Council and I am conscious of the obligations and demands that will be requested of me and am genuinely committed to speaking out for the profession. I will continue to share the diverse perspectives of our teaching community and authentically represent our profession.
Fleur is a principal standing to be the secondary principals’ representatives, elected by secondary principals.
Tēnā tātou,
Takitimu te waka tapu. Ngati Kahungunu te iwi. Ko Heretaunga te kainga noho
Currently serving my community as the Tūmuaki of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu (Since 2009)
The last thirty years have been dedicated to the pursuit of quality immersion Māori education for ākonga, whānau, iwi me hapū and it has been heartwarming to see progress made and graduates return to carry on the kaupapa. A complete joy to work with Te Runanga nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa in the creation of Te Marau o Te Aho Matua as well as to receive a secondment with the Education Review Office. Both entities provided the fantastic opportunity to spend time with high performing kura nationwide. Currently, in addition to being a Tūmuaki, I am an executive member of SPANZ, representing Hawkes Bay Secondary Māori Principals and working as a member of the Ministry of Education's advisory committee for the NCEA refresh.
Fortunate to be a foundational whānau member of our kura, established in 1995. One segment of the educational philosophy focused on lifelong learners. Mai te kōpū ki te kōpū "Womb to the Tomb" On the one site we provide Kōhanga Reo (Early childhood), Kura tahi (Primary sector), Wharekura (Secondary), Whare Wānanga (Tertiary) me taikura (Kaumatua).
My experience and knowledge of immersion in Māori Education would add much diversity to the Council. My core value is to help others, manaaki tangata and if elected, I would do that with every fiber of my being.
Mā te Atua e Manaaki me tiaki i a tātou.