A student’s journey of resilience, heart and purpose

With a passion for inclusive education and years of hands-on experience supporting diverse learners, she saw further study as a way to amplify the impact she was already making.

Jayde works as a primary-trained teacher at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (The Correspondence School), where she’s been teaching for nearly seven years. After completing her initial teacher education at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University in 2013, Jayde knew where to turn when it came time to take the next step in her career.

In 2022, she enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching, endorsed in complex needs, which naturally led to completing the Master of Specialist Teaching in 2024. For Jayde, choosing to specialise in complex needs was an easy decision.

“Supporting ākonga within the learning support space is where my heart truly lies,” she says.

That commitment is shaped by her work with diverse learners, as well as the personal insights she’s gained from raising a neurodiverse child.

Her master’s research project asked an important question: How does Te Kura enable successful remote learning for ākonga with learning support needs? It’s a topic that hits close to home for Jayde, and allowed her to highlight the innovative and inclusive practices taking place within her own teaching environment.

The project surfaced practical strategies already being used at Te Kura, such as personalised learning programmes, strong whānau relationships and adaptive communication, and positioned them as models that could benefit remote and hybrid education settings more broadly. It also identified gaps that need attention, such as access to specialists, additional professional learning and improved resourcing. Her findings offered a range of practical tools that could be rolled out immediately, like family starter packs, micro-learning modules for kaiako (teachers) and more inclusive digital resources.

“I feel that my research matters because it centres the voices of kaiako who are doing the mahi every day. It shows that when remote learning is personalised, connected and well-supported, it can be a powerful, inclusive option for learners who may not thrive in traditional educational settings.”

One of the most impactful parts of her postgraduate journey was the support she found in the complex needs study group, a tight-knit group of women who formed early in the programme.

“We came from all over the country, but the study brought us together and the friendships have lasted,” she says.

That support proved especially vital when she faced one of her biggest hurdles: the Esk Valley floods in 2023, which destroyed her family’s home — and with it, all of her study notes and assignments.

Despite the devastation, Jayde was able to continue with her studies, thanks to her whānau, her study group and the empathy and encouragement of her lecturers.

“They personally reached out after the floods. Their support made all the difference,” she recalls.

Balancing full-time work, postgraduate study and family life also tested her resilience.

“There were definitely moments of self-doubt and impostor syndrome. But with time, I began to trust myself and the process more. Once I committed to diving in fully, that confidence grew and what do you know? I made it!”

Going forward, Jayde is determined to continue advocating for learners with complex needs and for the educators who support them. She’s passionate about sharing what she’s learned and helping drive change in how learning support is delivered.

Inspired by Jayde’s journey?

Find out more about the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (PGDipSpecTchg) and how you can make a difference in the lives of diverse learners.