MONIQUE FORD/Things
The director of the Berhampore School, Mark Potter, will take up his new role as NZEI Te Riu Roa president from next year. (File photo)
Wellington’s Berhampore School Director Mark Potter (Te Ati Awa) has been elected president of the New Zealand Institute of Education (NZEI) Te Riu Roa, succeeding Liam Rutherford from next year.
Potter, who has served as director of education for 33 of his 35 years, fended off the challenges of two other candidates standing at the annual conference in Rotorua this week to win the top job for a two-year term.
“To me, anyone who knows me knows that I’ve always stood for inclusion in education – without exception. So NZEI The long distance is the organization that can actually bring that forward, and that’s for all kids,” Potter said.
In order for Tamariki to get the level of education they need, sufficient resources were needed.
ROBERT KITCHEN/Things
Berhampore School’s board of trustees plans to advertise for a replacement principal, with Mark Potter (pictured) taking on the chairmanship of NZEI from next year. (File photo)
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Juan Zarama Perini/Stuff
Liam Rutherford’s tenure as president of NZEI Te Riu Roa ends at the end of this year. (File photo)
“That means our children need more teachers to reduce classroom proportions, more teacher assistants and more specialized support for their classmates with high needs. They also need their teachers to spend enough time leaving classrooms to develop exciting and engaging lessons,” Potter said.
But taking on the role meant that Potter had to move away from his beloved school — a change Potter acknowledged would be emotionally difficult.
“It will be so hard for me not to go to school for two years. I like working with the kids and the families and the staff there…but this kind of work is worth it. It’s where we’ve led and many of the values we have at Berhampore School have brought me to this point,” Potter said.
He has received “a lot of nice feedback from the school and parents” since the news of his new role came out. The Board of Trustees – which Potter said he will advertise for a replacement while he is gone – has been “very supportive” from the moment the director indicated he wanted to run for NZEI president.
STUFF / Connor Scott
Liam Rutherford, president of NZEI Te Riu Roa, discusses the report on early childhood education. First published on August 25, 2022.
Potter will be supported in his new role by the director of Kawerau kura Te Whata Tau o Putauaki Ribeka Lessels as vice president.
Also at this week’s conference, delegates from 48,000 NZEI members convened union meetings for the next term to expedite the winding up of their collective bargaining agreements and make a commitment to tackle sector underemployment.
Primary and school principals and teachers, and kindergarten teachers were all negotiating the renewal of their collective agreements, with support for action at the conference described as “overwhelming”.
“The sharp rise in the cost of living and the increasing work demands of educators have taken their toll on educators’ well-being. We expect a prompt response from the government that urgently needs to improve their working conditions and hauora,” said Rutherford.
In July, members voted to participate in negotiations across the public sector for a uniform wage increase with union members in health, education, government and social services.