Paula Calver
Tēnā koutou. Ko Paula Calver tōku ingoa. Nō Kānata ōku tīpuna. Ko Toronto te whenua tupu. Kei te noho au ki Tāmaki Makau Rau. Tēnā tātou katoa.
I joined the Ministry of Education in February of this year, eager to help fellow teachers make sense of the shifts needed to strengthen NCEA.
Many teachers have bravely stepped out of their comfort zones and are challenging long-standing assumptions to design more equitable and sustainable opportunities for young people to learn. Witnessing the shift from the initial uncertainty of planning a local curriculum to the enthusiasm teachers express once a plan starts to come together has been a highlight of the job. Mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori is essential for the well-being and success of our young people and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been an active area of discussion across many schools.
I have been privileged to work with low-literacy and diverse-needs learners, gifted and talented leaners, and students pursuing vocational pathways. Promoting STEM pathways has led to collaborations with educators from all sectors, striving to enhance access to these critical fields.
I am keen to support teachers with course design, placing emphasis on literacy and numeracy, universal design for learning, formative assessment and structuring collaboration.
Edwin Small
Kia ora koutou. Ko Edwin Small tōku ingoa.
I am an NCEA Implementation Facilitator in Te Tai Tokerau, primarily based in the Kaitaia Office. My area of specialisation is Mathematics & Statistics however I am happy to support across other learning Areas. I was born and raised in Barbados where I began my teaching career with an eight-year stint at my alma mater. From there I moved to Bermuda where I taught for 14 years across a wide spectrum of schools as well as being an adjunct lecturer at the local university.
I bring to this role over 30 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, middle leader, and senior leader across three countries – the last 13 years in Te Tai Tokerau at Kaitaia College. I have a passion for Mathematics, and I try to impart this passion upon my students by showing them how Mathematics is integral to life and goes across all disciplines. We have a wealth of opportunities to do this here in our wonderful region.
Since joining the Ministry in February 2023, it has been a joy to watch our kaiako embrace the positive changes in the Mathematics and Statistics curriculum area, and my role as NIF has enabled me to make connections throughout the education sector. We have a strong and dedicated group of teachers across Aotearoa who have a deep sense of responsibility for the well-being of ākonga and it has been a pleasure helping to forge stronger links among them.
Linda Haycock
I started my journey to becoming an NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF) several years ago when the Review of Achievement Standards first started. Having been through the last round of assessment changes many years ago, I decided to jump on board early and embrace the changes.
As head of a large Science faculty, I led my team through the pedagogical shifts required to make the most of the opportunities provided by the new style NCEA system. We really enjoyed piloting the general Science standards and huge shifts were made in both teacher and student outcomes.
I really believe we are on the right track to improving the wellbeing, equity, and pathways for our students. We live in a rapidly changing world and our education needs to take this into account.
Alex Moffat-Wood
Tēnā koutou, e te rangatira. No Ingarangi rāua ko Kōtirana ahau. I whānau mai au, i pakeke hoki au ki Tāmaki Makaurau ā, kei Tāmaki Makaurau tonu au e noho ana. Ko Alex Moffat-Wood toku ingoa.
Before coming to the Ministry in 2023 I worked as an English teacher and middle leader in Kuki ‘Āirani (the Cook Islands), Angola, and Tāmaki Makaurau. I have long-term interests in curriculum (particularly the English learning area), assessment practice, building positive learner identities, literacy, leading meaningful change, and developing teaching and learning programmes that respond to ākonga – particularly Māori and Pacific learners.
I deeply enjoy working alongside other kaiako to mutually develop our practice and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to do so across Tāmaki Makaurau and Tai Tokerau.
Graeme Ball
Kia ora. Ko Graeme Ball taku ingoa.
The pathway to my current role as NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF), with a focus on History and Social Studies, began with a change in career several decades ago from aircraft engineering (AirNZ) to History teaching at Northcote College (Te Raki Paewhenua/Tāmaki Makaurau).
With a strong interest in New Zealand history at a time when the Tudor-Stuarts curriculum reigned supreme, I became a champion for the teaching of our own stories in the Auckland and then New Zealand History Teachers’ Associations (AHTA and NZHTA). After the Prime Minister’s 2019 announcement that our own histories would indeed be taught in our schools, I was involved in the writing of the Histories’ curriculum. Following on from this I was granted a two-year secondment from Northcote College and, on behalf of NZHTA, I supported teachers and schools with the initial roll-out of that curriculum.
When the opportunity to continue in this line of work came up at the conclusion of my secondment, I was lucky enough to join the Ministry team tasked with helping schools adapt to the wider curriculum and NCEA changes. These are vital for both our rangatahi and society as a whole in order to move forward as a nation that truly honours the promises made in 1840. Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua: ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’.
Belinda Sydenham
Kia ora koutou. He kaiwhakaruruhau āhau mō Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. Ko Belinda tōku ingoa.
A passion for learning and teaching languages has led me to be an NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF) at the Ministry of Education. For the 6 years prior to undertaking this role, I worked in various PLD roles, supporting language teachers across the motu to enhance their practice using research-driven methodologies. For me, the opportunity to be in a sector-facing role within the Ministry was greatly appealing, at a time of huge change.
The languages area is wide and complex, as we have students learning new languages, others who are developing their capabilities in a heritage or mother-tongue language, others working with our two official languages – Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Learning languages allows students to become interculturally competent, and much more empathetic to those who are new to English as well. As the NCEA changes come through, we can see much more clarity and consistency in the languages learning area for all languages.
Being an NIF allows me to help kaiako to engage and navigate through the huge amount of useful material being produced by both the Ministry and NZQA, developing teacher confidence for the changes ahead.
Nō reira, tēnei te mihi ki a koutou
Vicki Lambert
Tēna koutou.
Ko Ingarangi te whenua ō ōku tīpuna.
Engari, i tipu ake au ki Cambridge
I te tau 2010 I haere mai au ki Aotearoa
No Kaukapakapa ahau.
Ko Vicki Lambert tōku ingoa.
I joined the Ministry in March 2024, with a keen interest and specialism in Arts education. I am eager to support teachers in the very important mahi of maintaining the importance of the Arts in our schools and kura, as well as stressing the unique place the Arts have in building culture, identity and social change.
I have taught English and Drama for 20 years, moving to Aotearoa in 2010. For the past 8 years, I have specialised in Drama. I have held middle management positions in schools across the North and West of Tāmaki-Makaurau. My strengths lie in teacher support and professional development, having worked also as SCT alongside beginning and overseas teachers. I am a passionate advocate for the Arts, especially the Performing Arts, and particularly in pedagogy relating to the values of Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga. Collaborative practices and their use in assessment for learning is also an area where I have some expertise.
Paula Calver
Tēnā koutou. Ko Paula Calver tōku ingoa. Nō Kānata ōku tīpuna. Ko Toronto te whenua tupu. Kei te noho au ki Tāmaki Makau Rau. Tēnā tātou katoa.
I joined the Ministry of Education in February of this year, eager to help fellow teachers make sense of the shifts needed to strengthen NCEA.
Many teachers have bravely stepped out of their comfort zones and are challenging long-standing assumptions to design more equitable and sustainable opportunities for young people to learn. Witnessing the shift from the initial uncertainty of planning a local curriculum to the enthusiasm teachers express once a plan starts to come together has been a highlight of the job. Mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori is essential for the well-being and success of our young people and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been an active area of discussion across many schools.
I have been privileged to work with low-literacy and diverse-needs learners, gifted and talented leaners, and students pursuing vocational pathways. Promoting STEM pathways has led to collaborations with educators from all sectors, striving to enhance access to these critical fields.
I am keen to support teachers with course design, placing emphasis on literacy and numeracy, universal design for learning, formative assessment and structuring collaboration.
Edwin Small
Kia ora koutou. Ko Edwin Small tōku ingoa.
I am an NCEA Implementation Facilitator in Te Tai Tokerau, primarily based in the Kaitaia Office. My area of specialisation is Mathematics & Statistics however I am happy to support across other learning Areas. I was born and raised in Barbados where I began my teaching career with an eight-year stint at my alma mater. From there I moved to Bermuda where I taught for 14 years across a wide spectrum of schools as well as being an adjunct lecturer at the local university.
I bring to this role over 30 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, middle leader, and senior leader across three countries – the last 13 years in Te Tai Tokerau at Kaitaia College. I have a passion for Mathematics, and I try to impart this passion upon my students by showing them how Mathematics is integral to life and goes across all disciplines. We have a wealth of opportunities to do this here in our wonderful region.
Since joining the Ministry in February 2023, it has been a joy to watch our kaiako embrace the positive changes in the Mathematics and Statistics curriculum area, and my role as NIF has enabled me to make connections throughout the education sector. We have a strong and dedicated group of teachers across Aotearoa who have a deep sense of responsibility for the well-being of ākonga and it has been a pleasure helping to forge stronger links among them.
Linda Haycock
I started my journey to becoming an NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF) several years ago when the Review of Achievement Standards first started. Having been through the last round of assessment changes many years ago, I decided to jump on board early and embrace the changes.
As head of a large Science faculty, I led my team through the pedagogical shifts required to make the most of the opportunities provided by the new style NCEA system. We really enjoyed piloting the general Science standards and huge shifts were made in both teacher and student outcomes.
I really believe we are on the right track to improving the wellbeing, equity, and pathways for our students. We live in a rapidly changing world and our education needs to take this into account.
Alex Moffat-Wood
Tēnā koutou, e te rangatira. No Ingarangi rāua ko Kōtirana ahau. I whānau mai au, i pakeke hoki au ki Tāmaki Makaurau ā, kei Tāmaki Makaurau tonu au e noho ana. Ko Alex Moffat-Wood toku ingoa.
Before coming to the Ministry in 2023 I worked as an English teacher and middle leader in Kuki ‘Āirani (the Cook Islands), Angola, and Tāmaki Makaurau. I have long-term interests in curriculum (particularly the English learning area), assessment practice, building positive learner identities, literacy, leading meaningful change, and developing teaching and learning programmes that respond to ākonga – particularly Māori and Pacific learners.
I deeply enjoy working alongside other kaiako to mutually develop our practice and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to do so across Tāmaki Makaurau and Tai Tokerau.
Graeme Ball
Kia ora. Ko Graeme Ball taku ingoa.
The pathway to my current role as NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF), with a focus on History and Social Studies, began with a change in career several decades ago from aircraft engineering (AirNZ) to History teaching at Northcote College (Te Raki Paewhenua/Tāmaki Makaurau).
With a strong interest in New Zealand history at a time when the Tudor-Stuarts curriculum reigned supreme, I became a champion for the teaching of our own stories in the Auckland and then New Zealand History Teachers’ Associations (AHTA and NZHTA). After the Prime Minister’s 2019 announcement that our own histories would indeed be taught in our schools, I was involved in the writing of the Histories’ curriculum. Following on from this I was granted a two-year secondment from Northcote College and, on behalf of NZHTA, I supported teachers and schools with the initial roll-out of that curriculum.
When the opportunity to continue in this line of work came up at the conclusion of my secondment, I was lucky enough to join the Ministry team tasked with helping schools adapt to the wider curriculum and NCEA changes. These are vital for both our rangatahi and society as a whole in order to move forward as a nation that truly honours the promises made in 1840. Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua: ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’.
Belinda Sydenham
Kia ora koutou. He kaiwhakaruruhau āhau mō Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. Ko Belinda tōku ingoa.
A passion for learning and teaching languages has led me to be an NCEA Implementation Facilitator (NIF) at the Ministry of Education. For the 6 years prior to undertaking this role, I worked in various PLD roles, supporting language teachers across the motu to enhance their practice using research-driven methodologies. For me, the opportunity to be in a sector-facing role within the Ministry was greatly appealing, at a time of huge change.
The languages area is wide and complex, as we have students learning new languages, others who are developing their capabilities in a heritage or mother-tongue language, others working with our two official languages – Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Learning languages allows students to become interculturally competent, and much more empathetic to those who are new to English as well. As the NCEA changes come through, we can see much more clarity and consistency in the languages learning area for all languages.
Being an NIF allows me to help kaiako to engage and navigate through the huge amount of useful material being produced by both the Ministry and NZQA, developing teacher confidence for the changes ahead.
Nō reira, tēnei te mihi ki a koutou
Vicki Lambert
Tēna koutou.
Ko Ingarangi te whenua ō ōku tīpuna.
Engari, i tipu ake au ki Cambridge
I te tau 2010 I haere mai au ki Aotearoa
No Kaukapakapa ahau.
Ko Vicki Lambert tōku ingoa.
I joined the Ministry in March 2024, with a keen interest and specialism in Arts education. I am eager to support teachers in the very important mahi of maintaining the importance of the Arts in our schools and kura, as well as stressing the unique place the Arts have in building culture, identity and social change.
I have taught English and Drama for 20 years, moving to Aotearoa in 2010. For the past 8 years, I have specialised in Drama. I have held middle management positions in schools across the North and West of Tāmaki-Makaurau. My strengths lie in teacher support and professional development, having worked also as SCT alongside beginning and overseas teachers. I am a passionate advocate for the Arts, especially the Performing Arts, and particularly in pedagogy relating to the values of Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga. Collaborative practices and their use in assessment for learning is also an area where I have some expertise.