Jocelyn has a passion and commitment toward making a difference in the lives of teachers, children and families/whānau involved in early years education. Jocelyn taught in early childhood for 20 years before moving into professional development as a facilitator with the Christchurch College of Education, (now University of Canterbury), at the time Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum was officially launched. After 15 years with the University of Canterbury she joined CORE Education where she has held the position of an Early Years team leader for the past 5 years. Jocelyn has responsibility for managing and supporting an inspirational team of facilitators, who progress current ideas on teaching and learning with teachers throughout New Zealand.
Jocelyn’s most recent experience took her to live in Chennai in India for a year where she was responsible for establishing an early childhood service based on Te Whāriki, the NZ early childhood curriculum. She valued this time of being immersed in a different culture as a time to strengthen her knowledge and understanding of cultural perspectives and ways of ‘being’ and ‘doing’.
Through Jocelyn's study for her Masters she developed a particular interest in the continuity of children’s learning as they move from early childhood into the schooling sector, and enjoys working with teachers from both sectors.
Jocelyn has a strong working knowledge and makes good use of ECE legislative requirements and the resources to support the ECE sector to achieve quality provision of services for their communities. She has worked in a number of consultation groups, in areas such literacy and numeracy, and self-review, supporting the Ministry of Education in developing early childhood resources to support practices that reflect current educational trends and theory. Her background experience includes time as an Education review officer, pre-service lecturer and researcher. More recently Jocelyn supported the renewal of education in Christchurch through membership on the Ministry’s Education Advisory Board.
International professional experience:
- 2013-15: Centre Director providing professional leadership for the establishment and operations of an early childhood service in India – facilitated curriculum development and teacher learning and set up operational systems and processes to New Zealand standards.
- Experience in project planning, management and budgets.
- A strong working knowledge of ECE legislative documents and requirements.
- Skilled in facilitating relationships, discussion and professional learning for governance and management groups, and curriculum development for groups of teacher from diverse ECE settings, schools and cultural communities.
- Up-to-date knowledge of strategic planning, ECE management, self-review, staff appraisal, assessment, curriculum and ECE programmes.
- Knowledgeable about curriculum connectedness between Te Whāriki and the NZC.
- Experienced in facilitating professional learning with groups of ECE and primary teachers.
- Future focused teaching and learning and digital technologies in education.
- Professional leadership and relationships.
- Modern learning environments, particularly as this concept relates to ECE.
- Knowledge of and keen interest in transition to school practices: into, within and beyond ECE.
- Prior experience as ECE teacher, Centre Director, lecturer, ERO reviewer, researcher.
- Christchurch Education Renewal Board, Member (2012-14).
- OMEP Canterbury Chapter, past Chair and current member (2002-14).
- The New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education Te Whare Matauranga Kohungahunga o Aotearoa, Member of Ethics Committee (2009-12).
- Out of India and thinking differently. Presented at The Gathering, Christchurch, 2015.
- Looking in the mirror to reflect on practice. Presented at The Gathering, Christchurch, 2013.
- Continuity of identity, language and culture at the time of transition from A’oga amata to mainstream primary school. Presented at Samoa Conference 2, 2011.
- “I bring funds of knowledge” – early literacy and transition to school. Presented at ULearn conference, Christchurch, 2010.
"I am a true red and black Cantabrian having ‘forever’ lived in Christchurch surrounded by my extended whānau. As a grandmother I have a vested interest in the trends and aspirations of education in New Zealand - I really enjoy my work!”
- Davis, K., Wright, J., & Carr, M., Peters, S. (2013). Key competencies, Assessment & Learning Stories: talking with teachers and students. NZCER video and accompanying resource.
- Wright, J. (2011). Schisms and Shimmers of Hope: Sector difference and the influence on children’s learning. Unpublished thesis, University of Canterbury.
- McKenzie, R. & Wright, J. (2011). Discovering the power of knowing and keeping connected with your students’ culture, language and identity. Presented at Samoa Conference 2011, 5-8 July 2011.
