Deirdre McCracken
Ko Tekoa te maunga
Ko Hurunui te awa
Nō Hawarden ahau, Waitaha ki te raki
Kei Rangiora ahau, ko tōku kāinga ināianei
E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe o Kai Tahu e nehe nei au
Deirdre is an education consultant and facilitation team leader based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She offers schools supports with the following:
leadership growth and team effectiveness
effective communication through Joan Dalton’s Learning Talk books
change management using strategic planning and systems review
science and chemistry education
collaborative inquiry into teaching and learning
professional growth cycles
observations for learning and practice analysis conversations
assessment for learning pedagogy to promote ākonga agency
evaluative capability
evidence informed decision-making
student achievement and impact data analysis
strengths-based departmental reviews
facilitation of high impact learning through quality learning design – both online and face to face.
She is an accredited PLD and Leading Adult Learning facilitator who has experience and expertise in facilitating professional learning and development with leaders and teachers in secondary, area, intermediate and primary schools, and kāhui ako. Prior to this role she held a position as head of the science faculty in a large secondary school, specialising in leading science and chemistry, sports coaching, and school-wide professional learning.
Deirdre has a strength in and a passion for supporting leaders to further develop their leadership to improve ākonga achievement and reduce disparity. This has led her to complete a postgraduate diploma in Educational Leadership with the University of Auckland. She has also spent considerable time developing her expertise in learning conversations and interpersonal effectiveness through the work of Joan Dalton.
In her spare time Deirdre delights in the pleasures of being with whānau and friends, taking long walks, gardening, and cooking. Often this with her husband and two adult children. She also enjoys tripping around the countryside with him here in Aotearoa and overseas.
Here are some blog posts that Deirdre has written to share her thinking with the education sector:
Educational leaders know the importance of creating a learning culture and building a sense of community within their ECE centres, schools, Kāhui Ako and organisations.
When working with school leaders and teachers to improve their coaching skills, we find there are usually a few big ‘aha’ moments.
Educational leaders are well aware of the importance of enabling teachers to take charge of their own learning in their professional settings.