Te Atakura Team Universal College of Learning (UCOL)
Te Whatu Kairangi Group Award
Leading system shift in teaching practice
The Te Atakura Team at UCOL | Universal College of Learning
- Jon Bailey
- Erin Lincoln
- Janell Kiriona
- Tim Seaholme
- Sherylee Spencer-Most
- Mere Robb
- Lynette van Hutten
The Te Atakura Team (left to right): Lynette van Hutten, Janell Kiriona, Sherylee Spencer-Most, Jon Bailey, Erin Lincoln, Mere Robb and Tim Seaholme
Te Atakura recognises that ākonga do not arrive to study at UCOL alone. They are accompanied by their whakapapa, their tūpuna, and the aspirations of their whānau. In acknowledging this, Te Atakura supports kaiako to become someone who not only facilitates learning but who upholds the mana and potential of every learner. Utilising a unique one-on-one coaching technique, kaiako are guided by the Te Atakura team to critically examine their teaching practice. The result is a systemic shift through deliberate acts of culturally responsive teaching, guided by ongoing observation and feedback, as evidenced in the following comment, “There is no doubt in my mind that Te Atakura has made me a better teacher.”
For kaiako, Te Atakura coaches are seen as “the sounding board you can lean on when things don’t always feel like they are going right in the class, and that quiet presence sends out the message “we are here, for you, and for them.” This ultimately leads to enhanced success and retention rates for ākonga Māori, with an increased sense of belonging and cultural safety in a classroom where they feel seen, heard and valued.
Te Atakura is sustained at UCOL through visible leadership support, strategic inclusion in planning, HR and alignment with organisational equity goals. The team have collaborated with other providers and shared the model more widely, with two industry training organisations adopting the programme.