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KAITIAKI
FIONA HARKNESS
Practice Leader
Tai Tokerau South RTLB Cluster (2)
Kaiarahi · Kaitiaki · Trauma · Leadership · Website
fiona.harkness@rtlb.school.nz
Ko Te Anakanihi
Ko Manaia ngā maunga te rū nei taku ngākau
Ko Waitangi, ko Kaiikanui ngā awa e māhea nei aku māharahara
E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Opuawhanga e noho nei au
He uri ahau nō Īnia, nō Kōtirana
He uri o te whānau o Cadell
Nō Pēiwhairangi ahau
I tupu ake ahau ki reira
Ko Te Tii te marae whakahirahira ki au
Ko Craig tōku hoa tane
Ko Adam, rātou ko Alex, ko Brad, ko Emma ā māua tamariki.
Ko Fiona Harkness tōku ingoa
Kia ora koutou,
I live on a small beef and forestry block in the hills just north of Whangārei with my husband, Craig (who I’m quite fond of), 4 spoilt ponies, 2 adored border collies and an assortment of chickens. I have lived and worked in Tai Tokerau for more than 50 years so while not born here, Tai Tokerau has my heart. I have been an RTLB since 2005 and became a Practice Leader in the Tai Tokerau South Cluster (2) at the beginning of 2012 (the year we transformed to 40 clusters).
I have had an abiding interest in Trauma Informed Practice since being given Perry’s seminal work “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by an MOE colleague in 2008. My current focus is on developing ways of working with school staff which support foundational shifts in their perspectives, language and approach which allows for co-regulation to occur, promotes a felt sense of safety and develops sustainable practices allowing for social and emotional growth and wellbeing for Tumuaki, Kaiako, ākonga and whānau.
I feel incredibly privileged to be involved with the development of this network and believe strongly in the power of the peer. RTLB are an amazing group of professionals who, in all of my experience, go above and beyond to support their colleagues and our most vulnerable ākonga.
Mā te whakātu, ka mohio, mā te mohio ka marama, mā te marama ka matau, mā te matau ka ora.
With discussion comes knowledge, with knowledge comes light and understanding,
with light and understanding comes wisdom, with wisdom comes wellness.
SUE McINTOSH
Practice Leader
North Canterbury Cluster (33)
Kaitiaki · UDL · Leadership · PLGs
sue.ncrtlb@gmail.com
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Terako te maunga
Ko Waiau te awa
He tangata tiriti ahau
Nō Culverden ahau
Kei Pegasus tōku kainga
E mahi ana au hei RTLB ki roopu 33
Kei Te Kura o Ruataniwha Kaiapoi North taku tari.
Ko Sue McIntosh tōku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā rā tātou katoa
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Sue McIntosh toku ingoa. I live in a beautiful area called Pegasus, with a large man-made lake, natural wetlands and Pegasus Bay beach all within walking distance from home.
I am an RTLB based in Cluster 33 in North Canterbury. I am lucky to be part of an amazing team of 14 RTLB supporting 40 schools across a large geographical area. I have been an RTLB for 7 years and this is my 3rd year as Practice Leader. Prior to this I have accumulated 28 years experience in various roles in primary education in Christchurch and North Canterbury.
I have a strong interest in UDL, which was sparked during study and then set fire after attending a two day workshop with Dr Jon Mundorf. I have also been involved in facilitating PB4L in our schools which has led to an interest in Restorative Practice, UBRS and Emotional Regulation. I am layering this with new understanding around Trauma, Dr Bruce Perry’s neurosequential model and Ross Greene’s work around Collaborative and Proactive Solutions. I love the ever evolving learning that we are privileged to delve into in our role as RTLB so we can advocate with everyone around the table for ākonga and their whānau.
Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia ō tātou māhi
Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work
DEB THOMPSON
Practice Leader
Far North RTLB Cluster (1)
Kaitiaki · Website · Ngā Pouwhirinaki o Aotearoa
deboraht@farnorthrtlb.co.nz
I te taha o toku Pāpā
Ko Te Ramaroa te maunga
Ko Tūwhātero te wairere
Ko Whirinaki te awa me te whenua
Ko Hokianga nui ā Kupe te moana
Ko Moria te marae
Ko Te Hikutū te hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
I te taha o toku Māmā
Ko Huruiki te maunga
Ko Whakapara te awa me te whenua
Ko Ngātokimatawhāorua te waka
Ko Te Ihi o Nehua te marae
Ko Ngāti Hau te hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Ko Deb Thompson ahau
E noho ana au me toku whanau ki Hokianga
Tēnā koutou,
My journey with RTLB service began in 2018. I am part of the cluster 1 team in Te Taitokerau , Far North. I work alongside Te Roopū Poutakitini. He roopū tēnei e mahi ana ki roto i ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kura-ā-Iwi, o Te Taitokerau. I also share and feedback to ngā Pouwhirinaki o Aotearoa, about kaupapa that are happening within our rohe.
The opportunity to be part of the Professional Learning Network, is a tribute to its purpose of connecting people and sharing knowledge. A wonderful group of dedicated individuals committed to working together on this kaupapa. Mīharo!
Mauri ora ki a koutou
MICHELLE MAULE
Cluster Manager
Te Paeroa Cluster (34)
Kaitiaki · Leadership clustermanager@rtlb34.school.nz
E Michelle pozaqu
Sa qua Butu Butu si Kazukuru, Sorezaru meke Zambana
Nō Taranaki ahau
I whānau mai au i Ōtautahi
Ko te Ahu Patiki e tāwharau ana i au
Ko moana nui a kiwa te wai e rere ana te waiora
Ko whakaraupō te whanga i mau te rongo
Nō Ingarangi, no Solomon Islands ōku tipuna
Ko Simon tōku tane
Ko Ruben tōku tamaiti
Ko au te Kaihautū o te kāhui o Te Paeroa
Kei te mihi au ki te Tangata Whenua
No reira, tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna tatou katoa
Kia ora koutou,
I awkwardly straddle two cultures, English & Solomon Islands. As a little person, I remember not knowing when we were eating rice with a fork or our hands. I am still on this journey and without my mother beside me, I find this challenging and emotional.
I became the Cluster Manager of Te Paeroa, Cluster 34 in 2019. Prior to this, I was a Deputy Principal/SENCo in a primary school in Christchurch. Through my experience of parenting a teenager and teaching across Years 1-8, my passion grew in ensuring an inclusive environment for those mokopuna who were not experiencing success in our education system.
I am passionate about addressing the inequities in our schooling system and ensuring our kaiako and mokopuna have access to the right supports at the right time and in the right place.
Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive
LEONIE PHILBURN
Ko Pureora te maunga
Ko Waimiha te awa
Ko te Rohe Potae o Maniapoto toku Turangawaewae
Engari, i tae mai taku whanau ki Aotearoa i runga i te tau 1904
Ko Ngati Pakeha toku iwi
Ko Philburn te hapuu
Ko Leonie taku ingoa
E noho ana ahau ki Mangakino.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa
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Kia ora koutou katoa.
I’m Leonie Philburn - I live on a lifestyle block just outside Mangakino with my partner and our grandson. We have two children (a daughter and a son) who both reside in Australia. We have six grandchildren. Inspired mainly by my oldest grandson, I’ve been an RTLB for five years. Prior to becoming an RTLB I taught from New Entrants to Year 12. I’ve worked in two clusters and am currently a proud member of Cluster 17. I became interested in UDL as an RTLB, and was fortunate to be able to attend a two day hui in Wellington , facilitated by Jon Mundorf. From there a UDL-focused Community of Practice was formed in our cluster. I am really interested in how UDL can support all kaiako and akonga to achieve their best. UDL encompasses all aspects of the RTLB practice sequence so I believe it is a natural umbrella under which we work. Through the work with this group, I look forward to being able to share the potential of UDL with RTLB and teaching colleagues across the motu.
LOUISE WOODHEAD
Ko Louise Woodhead tooku ingoa
Ko Pirongia raua ko kakepuku nga maunga
Ko Waipa te awa
Ko Maniapoto te iwi ote rohe
Ko whakapapa kotimana me ingarangi hoki ahau
I whanau ahau ingarangi
He RTLB ahau mo ngaa tau e whitu
Kei te Roopuu tekau ma ono ahau e mahi ana
My journey in education began when my daughters didn’t fit. I decided that there had to be a better way. I taught for many years in years 7 and 8 and then had the opportunity to be a leader of a school. One day I realised I needed to be supporting students, teachers and whānau on a more personal level. This is how I arrived in the RTLB world. During my years as a classroom teacher I created environments where all students could decide their own learning path. Later I discovered this practice had a name, Universal Design for Learning (UDL). I have a passion for giving ownership of one's learning back to the person that the learning belongs to, giving them the opportunity to learn and present in a way that fits with their mana. UDL is a way of working that gives this opportunity to all. I am passionate about being culturally responsive especially to our Treaty partners and I believe that following a UDL path does this.
MICHELLE WISHART
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Kōtirana te whakapaparanga mai engari
Ko Warkworth me Maungawhau te whenua tupu
Kei Kumeu au e noho ana
Ko Ken McCardle taku koro
Ko Connie taku kuia
Ko Guy Wishart taku tane
Ko Michelle Wishart toku ingoa.
Tēnā tātou katoa
Michelle has been in education for over 30 years. She has taught four year olds to 15 year olds in low decile and high decile schools. She has taught in London, Bangalore and Bangkok. Her last teaching post was at Westbridge Residential School which ignited her passion for Trauma Informed Practice. Having an understanding of how the brain works when under toxic stress and the impact that it can have on learning and behaviour has transformed her pedagogy. Michelle and her husband adopted their now adult daughter 25 years ago and have lived experience of the impacts of complex developmental trauma but also the power of healing through positive relationships and a strengths based approach.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive
CORRINNE DEVITT
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Mournes tōku maunga
Ko Lagan tōku awa
Ko Armstrong tōku iwi
Nō Northen Ireland ahau
Kei Tauranga tōku kāinga ināianei
Ko Devitt tōku whanau
Ko Corrinne tōku ingoa
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa
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Kia ora koutou. Ko Corrinne Devitt toku ingoa. I live in Tauranga in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. While I originate from Northern Ireland, I have called Aotearoa ‘home’ for the past twenty-two years. I have been married for thirty-two years, have three amazing grown up kids and three adorable dogs. I have been with the RTLB service for 6 years and have been Practice Leader for 3. We are a large cluster with 40 practitioners working in a diverse range of schools. The aspect that I enjoy most about my role is supporting the collaborative team to identify possible barriers and then plan a range of useful strategies and tools so each ākonga can access the curriculum. By considering the strengths and difficulties of all learners, UDL is a flexible framework that guides the design of optimal learning experiences. Using the framework encourages the team to assume that barriers to learning are within the environment and not in the student. The principles from our practice framework ‘he pikorua’ are beautifully aligned with UDL and when combined, they can have a positive, sustained impact.
Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama
Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened
VIKKI GRANT-LAWLOR
RTLB & Therapy Dog Specialist
Te Awa Kairangi (Lower Hutt) Cluster (29)
UDL · Kairaranga · Podcasts
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Dutchess te maunga
Ko Burnett te awa
No Te Pāpaka-a-Māui ahau
Ko Peter Grant rāua
Ko Margaret Grant ōku mātua
Ko Te Whanganui-a-Tara tōku kāinga ināianei
Ko V Grant-Lawlor tōku ingoa
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa
My teaching experience began when I was 8, swimming behind family and friends as I supported them in their first forays into waterskiing. Growing up, I never felt like I was particularly smart, and school was just a place where I could play sport. After doing 50 jobs that I knew I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life, I realised that teaching had long called me. Thankfully, I’ve outgrown those initial self-limiting beliefs and now constantly look for the possibilities in any situation. As someone with more than a couple of ADHD traits, the UDL approach sits as a natural way of working for me. This has helped when building my teaching experience spanning both Australia and New Zealand, public and private schools, and all sectors of learning - primary, intermediate, college, and adult education, in person and online. I accidentally became an RTLB at the end of 2019 (that’s a story for another time) and I now work in the Te Awa Kairangi (Lower Hutt) Cluster. I’m in a privileged position, where I work with my Therapy Dog, TomTom, alongside me in all my work. I am excited to be able to contribute to this UDL team and look forward to helping us connect to our colleagues around the country to share and grow our UDL practice.
Ma te huruhuru ka rere te manu
Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly
ANTHONY SANDFORD
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa
Ko Aoraki te maunga
Ko ōtākaro te awa
Ko Robert toku Papa
Ko Jennifer toku Mama
Ko Isla taku tamahine
Ko Emmy taku tamahine
Ko William taku tama
Ko Sandford toku ingoa whānau
Ko Anthony toku ingoa
No Otautahi ahau
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa
I have been a RTLB since national RTLB Transformation, in 2012. Prior to this role, I worked as a primary school teacher and also as a Guidance School Counsellor. It was in this latter role, during the Canterbury Earthquakes, that trauma-informed mahi, became a significant focus and challenge.
Within my RTLB role, I work in the primary and secondary setting. I have skills and experience with neurodiversity, primary to secondary kura transitions, coaching and mentoring, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and trauma-informed practice. I have also delivered PLD programs to kaiako and kaiawhina on a range of inclusive-based topics. I enjoy the professional challenges that the RTLB role encompasses.
I was very privileged to attend Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model of Education Conference in Term 4, 2023. This was a very powerful conference with many learnings-e.g. The appropriate response needs to be "Regulate-Relate-Reason". It re-ignited my interest in trauma-informed practice. I have also delved into other trauma-informed PLD opportunities, including Grow Waitahi networking opportunities in Christchurch.
I am very excited to be part of the NZ RTLB Trauma Professional Learning Network Kairaranga and promoting exciting PLD opportunities within the trauma space to all RTLBs across the motu. When I am not delving into RTLB mahi, I am usually transporting my 12, 14 and 17 year old to either football, dance or their friends or telling them to tidy up!
Ā te whakātu, ka mōhio
Mā te mōhio, ka mārama
Mā te mārama, ka mātau
Mā te mātau, ka ora
By discussion comes understanding
By understanding comes light
By light comes wisdom
By wisdom comes wellbeing
TRACEY RICHARDSON
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Maungatautiri te maunga
Ko Oraka te awa
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Ahuru te hapū
Ko Ngatira te marae
No Putaruru ahau
Ko Tracey Richardson toku ingoa
Tracey Richardson has been an educator for over 30 years. She has taught in both Primary and Intermediate Schools in NZ and the UK. Her varied career has seen her work as a team leader, curriculum advisor and Deputy Principal. Tracey’s background as a curriculum advisor established a strong working knowledge of the NZC which is invaluable when mentoring others to create inclusive, innovative learning programmes. Tracey has an extensive background in health education and a passion for student wellbeing. She has a wealth of experience in health promotion and a working knowledge of programmes that enhance student wellbeing and promote safe, secure learning environments. Her interest in wellbeing and her recent RTLB study through Massey University, has highlighted the mahi that is happening around trauma informed practice. Tracey is keen to be part of this important kaupapa and help to facilitate learning and growth nationally for all RTLB.
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Dr Heidi Leeson
Researcher/Pyschometrician
Te Whare Whakaruruhau Research Project
Dr. Heidi Leeson is deeply involved with schools, guiding them to better understand and support students' emotional and social learning. Dedicated to providing schools with valid and reliable tools for measuring SEL and learner dispositions, she empowers educators to make informed, evidence-driven decisions. By focusing on students' strengths, Heidi assists schools in developing programs that address individual challenges and align seamlessly with each school's unique environment.
With a solid foundation in educational and developmental psychology, Heidi's expertise extends to supporting a diverse range of learners, from neurotypical to neurodiverse. Her experience spans the corporate, health, and educational sectors, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
Heidi frequently reviews for the American Psychological Association and Academic Letters, providing valuable insights into educational measurement and psychology. She is committed to integrating SEL and learning-related dispositions into educational practices, ensuring they are not only inclusive and effective for all students but also positively impact their outcomes.
