Speaker spotlight: Ms Karen Brinsden

Ms Karen Brinsden
​Principal, Botany Downs Secondary College, NZ.

Ms Karen Brinsden will be presenting in two sessions.

What should participants expect to hear in your session “The Change in Embracing the Local Culture in Schools”? What topics will you cover?

How we, as a large state co-ed school (1950 students) with a diverse multicultural community with representation from over 60 ethnicities, develop strategies with both staff and students to build a culturally responsiveness learning environment.

What should participants expect to hear in your session “Special Education Needs & Inclusive Education”? What topics will you cover?

We are an inclusive school where students with learning challenges are mainstreamed in our whanau based school, our pastoral care system (House structure – just think Harry Potter!).  Technology is a pivotal tool in supporting students with additional needs (SWANS) to access the curriculum allowing them to learn at their own pace whilst sitting alongside their peers. To meet the needs of every student at our school we sometimes have to think outside the box.

Why are you looking forward to Bett Asia 2019?

To be leading edge (not bleeding edge), I welcome the opportunity to network with my global colleagues. To keep up with the pace of change, change management is one of the biggest skills a school leader can master. Through networking, our professional conversations provide rich opportunities to learn from each other – the challenge is to consider how we might leverage the new learning in our own settings /contexts.

Who/what do you want to see at Bett Asia 2019?

The opportunity to network and have professional conversations, sharing of innovative practice.

Why do you think global collaboration is so important in education?

The opportunity to collaborate to exchange ideas is one of the richest forms of professional learning.  Collaboration often challenges your current thinking with the intention of listening for ‘gems of ideas’ that could positively shift your learning organization.

Who or what inspires you in education?

Seeing our students succeed.

Why is Bett Asia so important for educational transformation in the region?

The desired skills we promote with our students now will not be the skills required in the workforce in five years – leaders must be open to new learning

How does the world deal with the need for more teachers and new approaches to learning?

Accredited recruitment agencies supported by the New Zealand (NZ) Ministry of Education seeking teachers from overseas and relocation allowance for NZ trained teachers.