The team at ImpactEd are in the privileged position of being able to work alongside Kāhui Ako all around New Zealand. The MoE define Kāhui Ako as a group of education and training providers that form around children and young people's learning pathways, and work together to help them achieve their full potential.
Although there is one definition for Kāhui Ako, each and every Kāhui Ako has unique qualities, including the number of teachers, geography of schools, community needs, and cultural priorities. These diverse characteristics shape each Kāhui Ako’s approach to learning, collaboration, and resource-sharing, making every partnership a distinct opportunity to address specific educational goals and challenges.
One of our favourite Kāhui Ako support mechanisms we are involved in, is Kāhui Ako wide Teacher Only days. Our team rallies together to work with the Kāhui Ako leadership team and principals to plan and execute a purposeful, inspiring day of professional learning.
These events are tailored to meet the specific needs of the Kāhui Ako, focusing on collaborative teaching strategies, curriculum alignment, and shared goals across schools. By bringing educators together, a unified space is created for reflection, skill-building, and discussion, ensuring that every teacher feels equipped and supported to enhance student outcomes within their community.
On Friday 8th November we had this opportunity with the Te Manahuna Kāhui Ako.
We started the day with an opening keynote from Sir Ian Taylor. As he spoke, a card was passed around for educators to share their thoughts, and the key words written to him included:
inspiring, energising, thought-provoking, and visionary.
His insights set a powerful tone for the day, encouraging all of us to reimagine the impact we can have in our students' lives. The enthusiasm and reflections from the keynote fueled discussions and sparked new ideas, creating a vibrant atmosphere that carried through the entire day.
Morning tea was catered by Fairlie Bakery - the famous Fairlie pies were something of a delight!
After morning tea the ImpactEd team facilitated a collective teacher efficacy session. Each school had a task that had been set earlier in the term. The task was scaffolded, with 3 steps and examples to support each step.
Task: Consider how you can actively use the results from summative assessments to inform and improve your ongoing teaching practices, aligning with the principles of assessment for learning. Develop a strategy that incorporates these practices to share with the Kāhui Ako, aiming to strengthen collective teacher efficacy.
Everybody came prepared, and we had an awesome sharing session. The audience received a reflection sheet with a "Star" and a "Steal" section—highlighting something they loved and an idea they wanted to adopt, and how they would adapt it. The atmosphere was one of openness and growth, as each educator left with new insights, practical takeaways, and a sense of shared accomplishment. It was so rewarding to have the perspectives from ECE - Year 13. There was such collective genius in the room, and we got to hear all of it.
After sharing another amazing lunch, we headed for breakouts chosen by the Kāhui Ako.
Arnika Macphail: Harnessing Technology to Empower Neurodiverse Learners: Strategies for Inclusive Teaching.
Katie Tullett: Key elements of assessment for learning unpacked. Student assessment dispositions and capabilities in action.
Jackie Brown: Accelerating the learning of our Y7 to 10 students in Numeracy.
These sessions were aimed to spark discussion, and we all came away feeling like we had something we could use....rather than a presentation and listen fest.
Thank you Arnika and team for a great day. Relaxed, inspiring, informative, and collegiate
OF COURSE....we finished the day with a social drink and chat - helped by our friends at Scapegrace Distillery. While people were grabbing a drink, we asked them to note down on a star (the Te Manahuna Kāhui Ako has a big connection with the stars - head to Mackenzie Country to see why for yourself) what they loved most about teaching.......and because our ImpactEd team are all teachers - we couldn't help but craft something up for them to keep.
We get to see firsthand, when working alongside the sector, what our educators face every day. We think you are all amazing, and we know the high quality and dedication you bring to your work, day in and day out. From adapting to new challenges to creating engaging, impactful learning experiences, you continually go above and beyond. It’s inspiring to see the difference you make, and we're proud to support you as you strive to give every student the best possible chance to succeed.
So, thanks for continuing to be awesome and equipping our young people with the tools they need to support their future.
