Howick College principal Iva Ropati is one of two New Zealand schools heads seconded to the Teaching Council of NZ for five months beginning in May.
Last year, the Teaching Council’s Governing Board accepted the invitation from Government to establish a Leadership Centre, as recommended by the Tomorrow’s Schools review team.
“Rauhuia | Leadership Space was launched to the teaching profession in March,” the Teaching Council said.
“It is a ground-breaking approach to leadership in education and uniquely New Zealand with a bi-cultural lens. Rauhuia isn’t a finished piece of work, rather it is ongoing and will continue to develop.
“Professional leaders and teachers are invited to be a part of shaping it to meet their needs to grow as leaders.”
The Teaching Council’s Governing Board intends for the centre to take a new approach to leadership that will provide all teachers and principals with opportunities to develop “capable, adaptive and inspirational leadership”.
‘Principal Peak’ bodies are partnering with the Teaching Council to work up the principal strand of this broader initiative.
“The principals’ development strand of shaping Rauhuia | Leadership Space was initiated by principals, for principals,” the Teaching Council said.
The Principal Peak bodies partnering with the Teaching Council are the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, the Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ, Te Akatea (New Zealand Maori Principals Asssociation), NZAIMS (New Zealand’s primary networking organisation for middle schooling educators), the NZ Pasifika Principals Association, the Association of Integrated Schools New Zealand, the New Zealand Area Schools Association, the New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association and the Special Education Principals Association.
The Teaching Council and Principals’ Peak bodies sought two full-time principals, seconded to the Teaching Council from May 3 to October 8, 2021, to lead the development of the Rauhuia Principals’ Professional Development strand of the Leadership Strategy. The second principal is Linda Miller, principal of Otago Girls’ High School.
The two lead principals will be responsible for producing a draft plan of action by October.
Ropati is raring to go. “It’s an amazing opportunity to be part of the design process for some incredibly positive change in school leadership,” he said.
