Deirdre McCracken

PLD Consultant - Team Leader

Deirdre is an education consultant based in Christchurch. She works with schools in the following areas:

  • science and chemistry education

  • leading change using strategic planning and systems management

  • mentoring and coaching school leaders and leadership teams

  • student-centred leadership

  • collaborative inquiry into teaching and learning

  • culturally responsive pedagogies

  • innovative learning environments

  • practice analysis conversations – observation for learning

  • assessment for learning pedagogy in teaching and leadership

  • self-regulation strategies

  • student achievement data analysis, including effect size shifts

  • evaluative capability and data analysis

  • curriculum review to promote an integrated curriculum Innovative learning environments.

She has experience and expertise in facilitating professional learning and development with leaders and teachers in secondary schools. 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.

Deirdre is one of the go-to people around developing the role of the secondary middle leader. She has actively developed her skills through the completion of masters level papers specifically linked to key aspects of her work, achieving a postgraduate diploma in Educational Leadership. She has spent considerable time developing her expertise in learning conversations and interpersonal effectiveness through role-play, practice analysis and literature reviews.

She has a sound theoretical knowledge of and practical skills in all areas of effective pedagogy. Her facilitation strengths include listening and responding in ways that support the change process, challenging thinking and nurturing leadership and teaching growth. She models best practice and the use of research-based and evidence-informed decision making. Practising what she preaches is important to her.

In her spare time Deirdre volunteers at her sports clubs, supports her children’s sporting, academic and career endeavours, works alongside her husband on home improvements and takes his hand as they begin their overseas travel.

Here are some of the schools Deirdre has worked with recently:

  • Ashburton College

  • Darfield High School

  • Hornby High school

  • Kaikoura High School

  • Motueka High School

  • Rangi Ruru Girls School

  • Twizel Area School

  • Waimate High School

  • Waitaki Boys’ High School

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