Tuesday 20 September 2022 11:22am
College of Education Dean, Associate Professor Vivienne Anderson
Te Kura Ākau Taitoka - the University of Otago College of Education has been selected as the Principal Sponsor of the Otago Primary Principals’ Association (OPPA).
College of Education Dean, Associate Professor Vivienne Anderson, welcomes the sponsorship agreement as an opportunity for the College to further strengthen its relationship with colleagues based in Otago primary schools.
“These school leaders and kaiako are key partners for us in the provision of initial teacher education, and many school-based colleagues also collaborate with the College on research to inform education policy and school-based practice. We are really excited about this opportunity to offer our support and to learn from them.
“As educators, it makes sense for us to work together as much as possible to ensure the best outcomes for tamariki, whānau and communities,” Associate Professor Anderson says.
During the three-year agreement, the College will be the OPPA’s preferred provider for Professional Learning and Development (PLD), which is delivered by the Education Support Services team for kaiako and school leaders across English and Māori-medium spaces.
The College will also be granting an annual Te Kura Ākau Taitoka Prestigious Award. The award supports a local principal to further develop their expertise and professional learning in an area of interest and relevance to principalship. Any principal who is a member of the OPPA may apply.
The recipient is given a term sabbatical by the Ministry of Education and a scholarship fund supports them to explore their proposed area in depth. The College is supporting this further with office space on-site, library access for the year, and the opportunity to engage in research and professional development, as well as scholarly and social interaction with the wider College whānau.
Hamish McDonald
Director of the College’s Education Support Services, Hamish McDonald, says that as a former primary principal in Otago and president of the OPPA he is aware of the significance of this award, and its potential impact for the recipient and the wider principal community.
“This award provides a very valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth and development, as well as supporting the sharing of collective, collaborative learning across the OPPA,” Mr McDonald says.
Mr McDonald says this partnership between the College and the OPPA acknowledges the ongoing commitment and relationship between the College and the education sector, including principalship.
“The relationship fosters greater links, communication, and opportunities for the College to work with principals, kaiako and kura as they continue their education journey past initial teacher education. This is an opportunity to support Otago primary principals and their kura, affirming the College’s commitment to ongoing developments in education in Aotearoa.”
- Kōrero by Antonia Wallace