Carmen
Aldridge
Kaihuawaere Māori Matua
Qualifications
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) - University of Canterbury
Post Graduate Certificate (Mindlab) - Unitec, Auckland
Post Graduate Diploma (Endorsed in TESSOL) - University of Canterbury
Master of Education (Endorsed in Leadership) - University of Canterbury (to be completed December 2022)
Professional profile
Prior to joining CORE, Carmen has been in primary education for 13 and a half years in Ōtautahi. She has experiences in both culturally diverse English medium and bilingual Māori medium settings.
Her strong pedagogical knowledge of teaching and learning is evident in her approach to ensuring all learners make progress. Her recent experiences in the classroom, as a leader and leading change within a kura is reflected in her knowledge and range of experiences.
With a passion to ensure the success of all learners in education, Carmen loves working collaboratively to problem solve and to provide opportunities that embrace individual learners. By working alongside colleagues, senior leaders, whānau and tamariki she engages and listens to ensure all feel heard and acknowledged in their roles.
Carmen is visionary in her approach, is logical in her thinking and enjoys working with leaders and teachers to support development and change in education.
Expertise
Carmen’s recent experiences include:
Culturally Responsive and Bicultural Practice
• recent kaiwhakahaere and kaiako in Te Tikanga Rua Reo, Te Kura o Hato Ōpani
• creation and implementation of a teaching programme that meets the needs of tamariki and focuses on progress made based on time in a dual language programme
• ensuring relevance of kaupapa through a te Ao Māori lens
• promoting the success of Māori ākonga as Māori Localised Curriculum
• leading change in creating a school-wide localised curriculum
• engaging with whānau, tamariki, kaiako, mana whenua and community stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard and considered
• collaborating with external providers to research pedagogies and practices
Leadership
• eight years experience in middle leadership and one year as an acting deputy principal
• across both bilingual and mainstream settings
• curriculum area leadership
• completing last two papers in Masters of Education (Endorsed in Leadership) Classroom Practice
• developing teaching and learning programmes with assessment and reporting practices that focus on the progress of the child
• use of assessment and data to inform teaching
Personal statement
Ko Hokonui te maunga Ko Mataura te awa Ko Takitimu te waka Ko Kai Tahu te iwi I am originally from Gore in the south where I grew up and was educated in a dominant Pākeha world.
Moving to Christchurch, starting my family and embarking on my teachers training at UC; gave me the opportunity to connect with my culture, my reo and my understanding of te Ao Māori. Learning this as an adult brings about a range of thoughts and emotions that I truly understand.
I am a passionate educator who thrives on the challenge of making learning meaningful and authentic for all learners. I value relationships and the power we have as educators in the lives of our tamariki. To nurture them, to grow their knowledge and skills and to see them succeed in their world. As a leader I love to empower others to grow and to achieve their own success. The challenge to engage with an issue to explore and find solutions, tools and possibilities is exciting. He waka eke noa.
