PPTA-PCT-2025

Conference MC

Karen O'Leary

Biography:
A natural performer, Karen O’Leary made her acting debut in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s cult-classic feature What We Do in the Shadows.

Her head-turning performance as Officer O’Leary led to comedy spin-off series Wellington Paranormal, a show that is broadcast around the world in 70 countries, including on HBO Max in the US.

She since transitioned seamlessly into current events television claiming the Best Presenter: Entertainment at the 2023 NZ Television Awards for her role as Community Reporter on the show Paddy Gower Has Issues.

Karen developed exceptional communication skills in her two decades as an early childhood educator, and uses those skills to great effect as both a presenter and an MC.

She is a charismatic, hilarious, and charming presence whose services are highly sought after.

Keynote Speakers

Brendon Henderson

Teacher Development Aotearoa

Topic:
At Teacher Development Aotearoa we understand the importance of making connections with kaiako and subject experts. In our role as the Network Hub for the 36 NEX we coordinate the experts and subject leaders in providing professional support and guidance for their members. In this session Brendon will outline the benefits of being a member of a Network of Expertise (NEX) for Provisionally Certified Teachers.

Biography:
Brendon is the Chief Executive at Teacher Development Aotearoa (TDA) having started in this role in January 2022. He began his teaching career in 1990 and has worked at a number of schools in Wellington. More recently he was principal of Tawa Intermediate School for a period of 8 years.

Brendon is particularly interested in growing the capacity and capability of others and in developing strategic thinking in the education space.

He is married to Allison, and they have two college aged children.

Anthony Urwin

The Use of Tikanga and Kawa in the Classroom and School

Topic:
Tikanga are the Customs and Obligations that determine how one behaves and acts responsibly to uphold the Kawa of Tangata Whenua, Mana Whenua, Mana Maori and Manuhiri. These Customs and Obligations also apply to the classroom. It determines how you as a teacher behave and your tauira. How you set the culture of the class space and how the students respond to the expectations of the environment and learning. The Customs and Obligations set or determine how one treats, respects and works in the learning environment as a team. The basis of this workshop is how to use the Powhiri Process to set and engage Kaiako and Tauira in developing Tikanga and Kawa ki roto i te Ruma Ako.

Biography:
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua: ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’ This whakataukī speaks to Māori perspectives of time, where the past, the present and the future are viewed as intertwined, in that life and practice is a continuous process and evolving. The past is central to and shapes both present and future identity. From this perspective, the individual carries their past into the future. The strength of carrying one’s past into the future is that ancestors are ever present, existing both within the spiritual realm and in the physical, alongside the living as well as within the living.

Ko Ranginui kei runga, Ko Papatuanuku kei raro , Ko nga tangata kei waenganui, Tuhia ki te rangi, Tuhia ki te whenua, Tuhia ki te ngakau o nga tangata, Ko te mea nui Ko te aroha. E mihi ana kia koe, Kei te mihi koutou, I te Matua nui i te rangi, Nana nei nga mea katoa, Kia tau mai Te aroha Nga manaakitanga.

E mihi tēnei ki nga whenua tapu o tenei rohe, Awakairangi, Raukawakawa Moana, Whitireia, Rangituhi me te Moana o Awarua, tena koutou. Ki nga iwi o konei a Ngati Raukawa, Te Atiawa me Ngati Toa Rangatira, me nga iwi o te motu nei ra te mihi ki a koutou. Tuatahi ki a koutou nga whanau kua tae mai no nga hau e wha. Nau mai, hoki mai ki raro i te maru o tenei whare. Mauria mai o koutou maunga, awa, waka, iwi, hapu, tipuna, i waenganui i a tatou., Ki nga Rangatira o tenei tatari, tena koutou oti ra ki nga tangata o tenei rohe, nga Rangatira mauri ora.

Tuhia ki te rangi, Tuhia ki te whenua, Tuhia ki te ngakau o nga tangata Ko te mea nui ko te aroha. Tihei Mauri ora. E te Atua, tena koe, E te Marae, tena koe, E te whare, tena koe, E nga tangata whenua o Te Atiawa Whanui, tena koutou. Ko Taranaki te Maunga, Ko Waitara te Awa, Te Hungariki te Marae o toku papa, Ko Mururaupatu te Marae o toku whaea, Ko Pukerangiora raua Ko Puketapu oku Hapu, Ko Te Atiawa te Iwi. Ko Paul raua Ko Georgina oku matua. E wha nga tamariki kei roto i toku whanau. Ko Tina raua Ko Deanne oku tuahine, Ko Paora taku teina e noho ana ia ko Ahitireiria. Ko Sio raua ko Niko toku iramutu. Ko Nellie toku hoa rangatira te marama o toku ora e kuamate ia.

Ko Anthony Urwin taku ingoa ko au te matamua tamaiti o te whanau. Kua haere au ki te whare wananga o Te Herenga Waka mo te tau 2021 ki te whakaoti i taku tohu mo te Ahurea Maori, Matauranga me te Reo maori. Ko au te kaiako o Aotea Kareti.

Brooke Trenwith

Lifting the Tide by Catering to the Neurodiverse

Topic:
With as many as 34% of learners in our classes needing learning support, teachers need to know who to create a “rising tide that lifts all ships” to improve attendance and engagement. This workshop links strengths-based neurodivergent support, trauma-informed and relationship based practice to help our PCTs lift that tide. Participants will come away with practical and effective strategies that they can use immediately to improve attendance and engagement.

Biography:
An experienced educator, Brooke is passionate about providing teachers with the knowledge and strategies to support neurodiverse learners in their care. Brooke was President of the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children (2016-2020), a NZ representative on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (2016-2020) and is a MoE Accredited education consultant through her own company, Potential to Performance Ltd. Brooke is a trained a secondary teacher who has also taught from early childhood through to tertiary level and been an assistant director of an English language school in Taiwan. Brooke’s specialisations include inclusive learning (multiple labels), trauma informed education, coaching and leadership support. Brooke was on the Reference Group for the Ministerial Review of Curriculum, Progress and Achievement, the Curriculum Voices Hui for the NZ Curriculum Refresh and has sat on the Ministerial Advisory Group for Gifted Education since 2018.

Workshop Presenters

Monique Lubberink

Creative mindfulness - Learn to make beautiful art, following the 8 steps of the Zentangle

Topic:
Discover your creative side, even if you think you don’t have one. You might surprise yourself! If you can hold a pen, you can do this. Creating Zentangle patterns is super relaxing and a creative form of mindfulness. Increase your awareness and focus, get absorbed and feel more confident while making your own unique and original art. Learn about borders, strings, and shading. Learn your first tangles and discover the world of Crescent Moon, Hollibaugh, Printemps, and Florz. It feels great to have creativity flowing. Anything is possible one stroke at a time. There are no mistakes to make here!

After a step-by-step introduction you will take home your amazing work and have discovered a new way to relax.

Biography:
Monique moved to NZ from the Netherlands, 11 years ago with her family. She has a background in psychology, working with adults with ADHD and ASD, and has a passion for creative mindfulness, colouring, zentangle®, crochet and running her own Easy Now mindfulness business.

Making it easy for people to increase their well-being in a practical and down-to-earth way is hugely rewarding for her. In her teaching, Monique aims to make a happy space for all students to thrive and reach their goals. She has a NZ Adult Teaching diploma and has been teaching her own mindfulness, crochet, creative mindfulness course for over 8 years.

Monique facilitates a monthly colouring session for adults at a local cafe and also volunteers where she can, as "giving back to the community creates happiness!". Her secret hobby is yarn bombing.

Find Monique's zentangle and crochet on the website: https://www.instagram.com/easynowmindfulness/ and Facebook page.

InsideOUT Kōaro

Creating Inclusive Schools For Rainbow Students
Topic:
This workshop will cover the latest NZ research on students of minority sexualities and genders, relevant terminology, how homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and discrimination affect rangatahi and tamariki, the coming out process, pronoun use and the biggest issues facing rainbow students. We will present practical ways your professional practice can become or continue to be an inclusive and safe place for people of all sexual orientations, sexes and genders. We will also share our resources developed for schools to support in your rainbow inclusion journey.

Amy-Lee Wells, Tātai Aho Rau - Core Education

Developing a collaborative working relationship with your mentor

Topic:
It’s no secret that the quality of the mentoring relationship for beginning teachers can make or break your induction to the teaching profession in Aotearoa. All provisionally certificated teachers in Aotearoa should have a quality induction and mentoring programme to be able to apply for full certification.

But how do you know what to expect from that mentoring relationship? What can you do as a mentee to ensure you get the most out of working with your mentor? How can you advocate for yourself? And what about having courageous conversations with your mentor - to ask for feedback, to bring your voice to the conversation or to ask for what you need?

Biography:
Amy-Lee was a secondary teacher for 16 years before joining Tātai Aho Rau as a professional learning and development facilitator. She was a reliever, classroom teacher, Head of Department, Specialist Classroom Teacher and PCT Coordinator.

She brings this experience to her current role as coordinator of He Waka Unua (our coaching and mentoring programme) and programme lead for Te Poipoi Kaiako - Mentor Support Programme.

Amy-Lee works across both primary and secondary schools and has a particular passion for curriculum design and student-led programmes. She has successfully supported a number of schools with navigating the current NCEA changes and is an MoE accredited structured literacy facilitator. She was a part of the team writing teacher support materials for Tāhurangi focussed on the LitNum Co-requisites.

Cecilia Sanahuja

Feeling the music

Topic:
In this interactive workshop, we will explore the relationship between music and the brain. Discover how music can affect our brains, for better or for worse, and how we can make it work for us and not against us. We’ll also have a look at how to improve our mental health with music and sounds and experience sounds from a different viewpoint. Attending this workshop will help kaiako to develop new strategies that can be applied in personal and in classroom settings to support rangatahi in their academic and personal development.
.

Biography:
Cecilia is a vocal/life coach and sound healing facilitator, among others. She is an eternal geek that likes reading, learning and experimenting about energy, the brain and how music and sounds can affect us. Through sound meditation and workshops, as well as working 1:1, she helps people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and find their own voice.

Find Cecilia on her website:
https://www.tuningyourself.com/

PPTA Field Officers

Entitlements and Expectations as a PCT

Topic:
Join our friendly Field Officers from the PPTA as they guide you through your rights and entitlements as a PCT and support you with strategies to help you to foster positive employment relationships. During this workshop they’ll will be step you through your rights as a PCT to help ensure that you are getting the support that you are entitled to. In this workshop, you’ll also learn a little bit about the PPTA structure and how you can connect with your branch and networks. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions about your school context and any concerns you have about your Collective Agreement rights as a PCT.

Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion Title: Weaving together your kete

Chair: Karen O'Leary

Topic:
Our panel members, who have recently graduated from being beginning teachers, will discuss their personal experiences and the challenges they overcame early in their teaching careers. They will provide valuable insights into knowledge they wish they had during this period and offer perspectives on how to establish essential support structures for achieving balance and success in the teaching profession.