Spotlight
Dr Peter Lind
New Zealand Teachers Council Director
Excel in teaching so our learners will excel in the future
Registered Teacher Criteria workshops at a town near you!
“After extensive research, consultation and piloting, the Registered Teacher Criteria (the criteria) will soon be implemented as the new standards that all teachers must meet when achieving and maintaining full registration,” said Dr Peter Lind, Director, New Zealand Teachers Council.
“We’re excited to announce that the first workshop on the criteria launched in Manukau on 25 May, kicking off a full national tour to help implement the criteria throughout our schools.
“These workshops will be invaluable for professional leaders and senior staff responsible for registration processes to successfully implement the criteria. Come along for your chance to discuss and clarify issues in gathering evidence and making judgements based on the criteria.
“We are also inviting enrolments from advisors who support schools and early childhood education services to apply the criteria for registration appraisal and/or induction and mentoring of provisionally registered teachers,” said Dr Lind.
“The Council convened a group of teachers, including principals and advisers, to help design the workshop programme and resource materials to ensure the workshops will be of maximum value to you,” said Cynthia Shaw, Manager, Policy and Strategic Development.
“The Council has contracted Juliet Martin as national co-ordinator for the workshops. Juliet directed the trial of the Registered Teacher Criteria in 2009 when employed by the University of Canterbury’s Education Plus advisory service.”
“Our work with schools and early childhood services during the trial gave us an insight into the potential of the criteria to transform teaching practice,” said Juliet Martin.
“It also highlighted the need for support to enable the criteria to be successfully embedded in all settings. The workshops have therefore been designed to provide professional leaders with knowledge and materials that assist the transition."
We have been encouraging at least one participant per institution to attend a workshop, but can now confirm that we have space to accommodate two participants. Please ensure that you register these extras so we can provide enough resources and seating.
A resource pack will be worked through so you can lead professional development and discussion with teachers back at your workplace.
To express your interest in attending the workshops and to receive details of dates and locations text “CRITERIA” to 244 (txts cost 20c) or email alastair.mclean@teacherscouncil.govt.nz. Access further workshop information here.
Distribution of handbooks for final Registered Teacher Criteria
The bilingual handbooks for teachers containing the criteria have been printed and multiple copies will be posted to schools and early childhood education services. You should receive these before the end of June. There may not be one for each staff member but there should be enough so all teachers can easily access a copy.
Strong interest in the Registered Teacher Criteria
We have been encouraged by the high interest shown in the new criteria by teachers, principals and professional development advisers who have engaged with them. One of the advisers has described them as “a gift to the profession”. She has observed the way “teachers have responded to them in a highly professional way and used them to think critically about their teaching and used them to lift their professional practice to a new level.” We certainly hope that the thinking and consultation that has gone into their development will indeed make them a tool teachers and professional leaders will really value.