Otaki TodayŌtaki College’s Rachael Kneepkens has won a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching that allows her to study in the United States.
She is one of only two New Zealand teachers who will head to the US in August for four months to share her expertise and undertake research at either the University of Rochester in New York or Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Rachael Kneepkens in one of the learning support rooms at Ōtaki College. Photo Ōtaki Today
Rachael is the Special Education Needs Coordinator (Senco) for Arahunga Special School at Ōtaki College. She will be researching how disengaged students can be supported at secondary school.
“My research has come about from many years of working with students with additional needs, who then become disengaged at school,” she says. “I’m really interested in how we motivate these students, and in particular how we can establish support within the wider community to keep them in school.”
Rachael loves the idea of being able to connect with other educators to share ideas, experiences, and expertise. She says the Fulbright award is a once-in-a-career opportunity to learn, grow, and bring something meaningful back home.
“It’s not just about personal development, but also about contributing in a way that has a wider impact.”
She says it can be daunting to put herself into an unfamiliar environment, but that’s outweighed by the excitement of the opportunity for experience and personal growth. Although Ōtaki College already has pastoral care that she rates as “top-notch”, when she returns from the US she hopes to develop a college-wide strategy to re-engage students who are physically in school but emotionally and socially disconnected.
“This isn’t just about attendance at school; it’s about belonging, support, and purpose. I’m hoping to put together a programme that specifically supports these students.”
Rachael went to Teachers’ Training College straight after leaving school in Wainuiomata and has taught ever since. She arrived at Ōtaki from the Hutt Valley four years ago.
Ōtaki College principal Andy Fraser says Rachael is an outstanding Senco. She leads a staff of teacher aides supporting students with learning or physical disabilities.
He says when he advertised for the Senco position, Rachael’s CV and referees indicated she was a teacher with exceptional skills.
“I knew then we needed to employ her. As the saying goes, we have never looked back!”
Rachael has worked with the college and Arahunga Special School to develop a team that operates out of Te Puna Aroha (learning support). The team encourages strong, honest, caring relationships with students and whānau, and shows innovation in the models of support they offer.
“Rachael leads by example, and it’s no surprise that Te Puna Aroha is now a favourite place for many students to go to relax and spend time,” Andy says. “I am not at all surprised that Rachael has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship.
“She has made an outstanding contribution to special education, and I’m excited that she will be researching how to motivate and support disengaged students at secondary school.”
Andy says her work in this field will be utilised when she returns to the college.
The Fulbright teaching scholarship supports highly accomplished New Zealand teachers in primary and secondary schooling to participate in intensive professional development at an American university.
It includes academic coursework, leadership training, instructional technology seminars, and opportunities to observe, co-teach, and share their expertise in US elementary (primary) and secondary schools. Each participant will also complete an individual or group project relevant to their teaching.
The programme operates in 15 countries and brings together about 22 primary and secondary educators. It prepares participants to serve as educational leaders, equipping them to apply and share their learning with colleagues and students in their home communities.
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