Teachers Council Appoints New Director

11 June 2002

The New Zealand Teachers Council has appointed a new Director, Margaret Kouvelis, who is currently a Professional Education Adviser at the Council.

Announcing the appointment, the Chair of the Council Stan Rodger said that Ms Kouvelis would bring wide-ranging experience in education to the work of the organisation in its role as the professional voice for teachers in the secondary, primary and early childhood sectors.

“The Council faces many new challenges and Margaret’s experience, range of contacts and ability to facilitate and enable others will greatly help in tackling these issues,” said Mr Rodger.

Ms Kouvelis will commence her new position on 1 August 2002.

Mr Rodger paid tribute to Harvey McQueen who has been acting in the role of Interim Director.

“Harvey has brought his wisdom and experience to the work of the Council. His assistance has been invaluable in the setting up of the new Council, which has more functions than its predecessor, the Teacher Registration Board,” Mr Rodger said.

“Margaret’s first major task will be to complete the election of four teacher representatives to the Council. Once these four members are elected the Council will be given its full powers under the legislation, so she will be closely involved in one of the most important developments in our educational history.”

Ms Kouvelis has 31 years experience in teaching and education advisory services. Before taking up her current position at the Teachers Council she was the National Facilitator in Music for the National Certificate in Educational Achievement, and prior to that and had been at Massey University’s Centre for Educational Development as Music and Leadership Management Adviser to Schools.

She started her career as a science teacher at Queen’s High School in Dunedin, and has been Acting Head of Department for Art at Dunstan High School in Alexandra and Head of Department for Music at Freyberg High School in Palmerston North.

“My passion has been to empower students to discover their own talents,” Ms Kouvelis says, “and to empower teachers to develop their own professional judgement in their vocation.

“It has been a privilege to have been in so many classrooms working alongside the many heroes and heroines of our profession.”

ENDS

www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz

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