Steve Edwards
“There is nothing better than seeing ākonga engaged and enjoying learning. When teachers, other learners, and whanau are supporting, success is assured.”
Steve is a respected educational leader at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga, where he serves as National Manager of Curriculum and Assessment. In this pivotal role, he ensures that every curriculum and assessment provision is purposefully designed to meet client needs and achieve high-quality outcomes. Key components of his approach include understanding context, clarifying vision and purpose, building coherence, connecting to current practice and research, and monitoring the impact of PLD on target groups.
Steve has overseen major national projects, including the Structured Literacy Approaches (Years 0–8) PLD provision, the Targeting Structured Literacy project (Years 0–6), and the Accelerated Learning in Literacy (ALL) project. He is also a highly regarded consultant, known for his deep expertise, collaborative leadership, and ability to design facilitation that delivers real change for schools and kura.
Steve is approved to deliver Ministry of Education PLD in the following area:
Assessment
His extensive leadership experience also includes:
Leading the Ministry of Education’s Structured Literacy Approaches initiatives
Guiding the innovative Grow Waitaha project based in Ōtautahi | Christchurch
Supporting school leaders and boards during major build or rebuild developments, including working with establishment boards
Mentoring and leading principal appraisal initiatives
Steve contributes widely to the education sector through national and regional presentations, including at Primary Principals’ Association hui and Ministry of Education forums.
Steve holds a current teacher registration, is Open to Learning™ trained, and is a Ministry-approved PLD facilitator. He works with primary, intermediate, and secondary schools in areas such as:
Local curriculum design and implementation
Using evidence to inform teaching and learning
Developing leadership, particularly senior and middle leaders of learning
School management, including charters and education briefs for rebuilds and new builds
Assessment for learning
Monitoring and evaluating progress and achievement
Principal appraisal
Learning-focused conversations
Steve actively helps to shape the national PLD landscape - through both strategic systems leadership and direct facilitation in classrooms and leadership teams. He is a member of PLANZ (Professional Learning Association of New Zealand) and is committed to ensuring PLD across Aotearoa is high-quality, culturally responsive, and grounded in both practice and evidence.
Beyond his professional mahi, Steve is actively involved in sport as both a participant and supporter.
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