Colin Rangi. Jenny Robertson.

Lynda Reid.

Give Your Inspirational Teacher an A+!

By Fleur Revell
03 August 2016

An annual initiative to recognise and reward early childhood, primary, intermediate and secondary teachers around the country has launched today.

The New Zealand's Most Inspiring Teachers campaign is a Warehouse Stationery initiative to allow students, their parents, families and community to acknowledge the hard work of teachers.

Teachers often go above and beyond to make sure our children get the very best learning experience they can, and now it’s time to say thank you by nominating them for the ‘New Zealand’s Most Inspiring Teacher’ award.

It’s easy to get involved – simply visit www.inspiringteachers.co.nz and explain how a teacher in your community goes the extra mile to inspire, support and motivate you or your child, and both you and they will be in to win. Entries will be judged on four key criteria of enthusiasm, creativity, dedication and drive.

The overall winner who is named as New Zealand’s Most Inspiring Teacher will win a prize consisting of a $5000 holiday voucher, technology, furniture and stationery. Their school will also win a $500 Warehouse Stationery Gift Card and a box of school stationery supplies.

Three runners up in each category (Early Childhood, Primary & Intermediate and Secondary School) will each win a tablet, mobile phone, furniture, and over $500 worth of stationery supplies from Warehouse Stationery. In addition, these nine teachers’ schools will win a $500 Warehouse Stationery gift card and a box of school stationery supplies.

The individual who writes the overall winner’s nomination will win an iPad Air 2, giving a combined total prize value for the competition of over $40,000.

Pejman Okhovat, CEO of Warehouse Stationery, says a teacher’s important role is worth celebrating and over 15,000 New Zealanders to date have taken the opportunity to nominate and vote for a teacher who has made an impact on their life.

“It’s clear that people want to publicly acknowledge the special contribution a teacher makes to their lives, whether it’s their creative approach to learning in the classroom, the out-of-hours work they do to organise sporting or cultural events, or the support they give to families and parents of their pupils,” says Okhovat.

“In giving people the chance to nominate the inspiring teachers they know, we get to celebrate the hard work they do that often goes unnoticed, and reward these special people who have such an important job.”