Aotearoa-New Zealand Histories Curriculum: Understand, Know and Do

Join Cognition Education to explore why our new Histories Curriculum is too important to leave to chance!

Together, we’ll unpack the Understand, Know and Do elements of the Aotearoa-New Zealand Histories Curriculum, we’ll take a guided look at the curriculum refresh changes and what this means for the teachers in your school.

We’ll kōrero about teaching your ākonga, your local stories through the voice of your community, iwi and hapu. Setting you up for success to lead your ākonga to explore our history from differing perspectives and navigate potentially uncomfortable spaces such as the impacts of colonisation, and share previously untold stories.

Hosted by Cognition Education:

Tania Heke

Tania is a strategic leader with a passion for student learning. Her effective leadership practice systematically supports students, teachers, leaders and whanau to accelerate the progress of every learner.

Following a successful school leadership background in Auckland and Waikato, including Principalship, Tania enjoys working alongside and growing other leaders and teams. Tania finds success through coaching and developing strong school cultures that are underpinned by student, teacher and community voice.

Tania is an experienced educator who is skilled at listening to the needs of leaders and teachers and co-constructing professional learning plans to help them achieve their goals.

She can work alongside senior and middle leaders to develop observation and coaching skills. Her strengths include using formative assessment to accelerate achievement in literacy, strategic planning and reporting as well as developing an authentic localised curriculum through a culturally responsive lens that reflects your school and community.

Tracey Lawson

Tracey is an experienced trainer and classroom practitioner, with strengths in the Arts, English and Social Sciences. As a secondary specialist and an Across School Leader within Te Tai Raki Kāhui Ako, Tracey has proven leadership skills and is passionate about delivering solutions that best meet the needs of tauira.

A trained Relationships First facilitator, Tracey has 15 years of corporate experience in the IT and customer care industries, outside of an education setting. As such, she is experienced in change management and consultation with stakeholders.

One of Tracey’s passions is applying Arts education to unlock literacy pathways through authentic and meaningful contexts. Tracey has expertise in curriculum design and assessment practice, having been a Principal’s Nominee. Tracey has also facilitated training and led the implementation of PB4L and Restorative Practice, supporting teacher and leader learning and development in these areas.

Debbie Lomax

Debbie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the education sector in New Zealand. Her work experience includes leadership in state and state-integrated schools and Kāhui Ako, post-secondary teaching and research of the History of Education in Aotearoa with the University of Auckland. As the Regional Lead Advisor for the Ministry of Education, Debbie supported schools and Kāhui Ako with the design a Local Curriculum, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Change Management, and Leadership.

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Debbie led a Ministry of Education funded project, establishing innovative community learning spaces which successfully reengaged many students in learning, with others advancing to tertiary study, and/or securing paid employment.

With 20 years of educational leadership, management, and business ownership experience, Debbie is a valued leader for the Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau Cognition team. Debbie values diversity and expertise, she adds, “every conversation we have should leave all participants feeling better than you found them. That is the spirit of mana enhancing humanity”.