Anna Houston

Betsy Sewell

Betsy is based in Canterbury

I have a varied background, and have developed a set of skills that I have brought together to create this programme.

I have a strong background in research, having once worked as a research anthropologist. I have always had a love of writing. I have been a classroom teacher. And I am the mother of two children who were immersed in books as toddlers, but did not learn to read in school.

To bring all this together, I enrolled at Massey University as a distance student, studying the science of reading and reading disabilities at post-graduate level, and have followed new research ever since. I am driven by the evidence from this huge body of research.

I am especially grateful to the children I have worked with, who have taught me how to turn research and evidence into activities that appeal to them, that engage them, and give them the will to persevere. They taught me how to demonstrate that they are not stupid, but have yet to learn what they are supposed to do in order to read and spell.

Betsy Sewell

betsy@agilitywithsound.co.nz 

ph 027 722 3352

Denny Newburn

Denny is based in Gisborne

Denny has been a teacher since 1976, predominantly in secondary schools but also in intermediate schools and schools for at-risk students. She has always been passionate about literacy and spent a number of years as a literacy leader in a secondary school, three years as a Literacy facilitator for Learning Media and another ten years as a SENCo in a large, South Auckland secondary school. She believes literacy skills are essential for success in education and in life generally, but also that addressing literacy for at-risk students goes a long way towards getting them back on track.

Denny has published about 30 text books, mostly E.L.L. and some readers.

denny@agilitywithsound.co.nz

Kerrie Lomas

Kerry is based in Wellington
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                  Ko Moehau me Te Aroha te Maunga
                                  Ko Wanganui o Hei te Moana
                                  Ko Te Arawa te Waka
                                  Ko Ngati Hei te Iwi
                                  Ko Kerrie Lomas toku ingoa

 

During my career as a teacher I taught many many year levels – from Y1 -10.
Most recently I was Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour Cluster Manger for Cluster 2 based in Whangarei. Prior to that I was GLU (Resource Teacher Guidance and Learning who transformed to RTLB in 1999). I was also honored to have been the second National Coordinator Māori for RTLB.
 
My passion in education is the belief that all mokopuna have the ability to reach their potential and deserve to be provided with the tools that enable them to do so. This includes ensuring that they have the best teachers and the best resources to help them in their pathway to success.
I have been on many MOE Reference and Writing Groups to share the reality of every day life for Teachers and Students and the considerations that must be acknowledged when introducing something new.
 

Sandy Hix

Will be joining the Team early in 2024 and is based Canterbury.