Auckland teacher recognised for achievements

Auckland teacher recognised for achievements

Auckland early childhood teacher Milosi Su’a-Roebeck has been through some tough times in her life, but being nominated for a teaching award is an “honour”, she says.

Mrs Su’a-Roebeck, who works at Faavae Mautu Aoga Amata – a Samoan-based early childhood centre in Mt Roskill, was nominated by the centre’s Board of Trustees for the ASG Teaching Awards and Cognition Education Leadership Awards.

The road for Mrs Su’a-Roebeck into teaching hasn’t been the easiest, and this was recognised by the Board of Trustees when nominating her.

In 2009, she was one paper away from finishing her Bachelor of Education when her four-year-old son was killed by a car outside the family’s Auckland home.

“Feterika’s death took me to rock bottom. At the time I was very close to finishing my degree but I could no longer see the point.”

“I just couldn’t face it, but with the help of my family and friends I ended up completing it. My mum was a great support and decided to do the paper with me,” she said.

Four years later, she now works as the Over 2’s Head Teacher at the centre and works alongside her sisters and mum.

“I dedicated completing my teaching degree to Feterika, and now receiving this award is just amazing – it is a real honour to be nominated,” Mrs Su’a-Roebeck said.

The awards encourage teaching excellence and give communities the opportunity to publicly recognise their inspirational teachers and leaders.

Every two years, parents, Boards of Trustees, parent associations, secondary student councils and community organisations are given the opportunity to nominate teachers and leaders in their school community who inspire learning.

Nominations for the awards close on 30 September 2013. To nominate go to www.asg.co.nz/neita.

ASG Education Programs New Zealand helps create educational opportunities for children and Cognition Education Trust aims to raise the educational expectations and contribute to raising the life chances of all New Zealand students.

-ENDS-

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