Shari Young taught academic English in Japan and Turkey for 18 years before returning to New Zealand in 2018 to join Ara Institute of Canterbury.

Since moving into Pathways education in 2022, she has enjoyed helping students navigate their study and career options. Shari is the Programme Lead for the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment and teaches Academic Literacies.

Nominator's statement

Shari consistently puts learners at the centre of everything she does. Whether she’s designing a program, mentoring a colleague, or supporting a student one-on-one, her decisions are always guided by what will best serve the learners.

Shari developed a literacy program that helps bridge the gap for adults who are new to tertiary learning—offering both skills and confidence to learners who might otherwise be left behind.

Shari’s support does not stop at the classroom. She spends countless hours in pastoral care, working across departments to make sure learners feel heard, valued, and well-supported.

Shari’s work shows how literacy can be so much more than reading and writing—it can be a pathway to identity, dignity, and new possibilities.

Find out more about the Aotearoa Literacy and Numeracy Educator Awards