https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/business-and-community-engagement/schools/kalman-charitable-trust-prizes-and-fellowship.html
Brad Bridges, St Peter’s College
Brad spent two years researching and developing a new Junior Maths programme, the goal of which was “to engender a love for Mathematics and enable each student to reach and fulfil his full Mathematics ability”. His new programme was quite a departure from what had been a very content-driven traditional approach to teaching Mathematics. His enthusiasm, resources and support offered to other teachers, ensured that colleagues could implement the new programme with confidence.
Brad provided parents with Weekly Engagement Reports about their sons and sought feedback from students and their parents. Adjustments to the programme have been made as a direct result of that feedback.
Jonathan Eley, Glendowie College
Jonathan is an innovative teacher who has transformed much of the teaching programme at his school. His first task was to review the Junior Programme to improve student engagement and to transition them to the Senior School. Students are no longer streamed in the Junior School which has contributed to a more inclusive learning environment for students.
Once the Middle Years Maths Programme was in place, Jonathan led pedagogical change in the Senior School too, taking on responsibility for Scholarship Calculus and a new Year 11 programme. The school chose not to offer NCEA Level 1, so the Year 11 course needed to be revised with the aim of preparation for NCEA Level 2.
Jonathan’s teaching innovations are always backed up by robust research. He has led by example and inspired his fellow teachers to begin their own journey of innovation and inclusion.
Katalina Ma, Mangere College
Katalina has been responsible for the introduction of the South Auckland Maths Competition. This was a direct result of her students being
disappointed at their performance in an Auckland wide MATHEX competition. Katalina was recently interviewed on RNZ about this initiative (Helping Maori & Pacific students to succeed in math & physics | RNZ). In addition to this Katalina supports the Pacific Academic run by the University of Auckland to support Year 11 to 13 students who are enrolled in external Maths and Statistics external standards.
Katalina is also a Rise and Shine tutor, a programme run by Tongan parents and teachers, to support Year 1 to 13 Pasifika students at Mt Roskill Grammar with Mathematics and Science.
Katalina has made a huge impact in her community and is passionate about ensuring greater numbers of Maori and Pasifika students choose pathways that include Mathematics.
Ranee Prasad, Edgewater College
Ranee has taught mainly in schools with a high proportion of Maori and Pasifika students. Having heard for too long claims of “I am no good at Maths” from students and “I did not learn Maths this way” from parents, she decided to try and change these attitudes.
Ranee created a series of videos covering a wide range of Mathematical skills focusing mainly on the strands of Number and Algebra.
These
videos have then been translated into several different Pacific languages. These videos can not only be used by teachers but have also helped to bridge the gap between Mathematics and the Pacific communities. Many of Ranee’s students live with their grandparents who were eager to help with Mathematics, but they struggled to understand content due to language difficulties. The feedback from students, teachers and the wider school community has been overwhelmingly positive.
Ranee has also been a member of the Auckland Mathematical Association Executive for a number of years and has helped organise many of their professional development events.
