Debra Ryan

Education Consultant

Debra (Deb) is an education consultant in our Wellington team. Since joining the company in 2014, she has supported schools across Auckland, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Hawke’s Bay, and beyond. Based in the Wairarapa, she brings both regional insight and extensive experience to her role. 

Debra is approved to deliver Ministry of Education PLD in the following areas: 

  • Structured Literacy Approaches 

  • Mathematics and statistics 

  • Assessment  

She also supports schools in the following areas: 

  • Teaching and learning as inquiry 

  • Practice analysis conversations 

  • Mentoring and coaching school leaders and leadership teams 

Debra has over a decade of experience in assessment facilitation, working alongside schools and leaders to strengthen assessment for learning practices. Her expertise includes the use of standardised assessment tools, with a particular focus on building teacher capability in interpreting data and applying it to targeted teaching. She has also contributed to the redevelopment of Assessment Online (TKI) and has presented at the New Zealand Assessment Institute conference. 

As a current Accelerating Learning in Literacy (ALL) mentor, Debra supports primary and secondary schools in the Wellington region to implement targeted, dose-dense literacy interventions for priority learners. Her facilitation integrates systematic phonics, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies, underpinned by science of learning principles such as cognitive load theory and retrieval practice. Debra is adept at using diagnostic assessments and formative feedback to inform instruction, and her PLD design reflects a strong commitment to culturally responsive practice and adult learning theory, ensuring content is tailored, relevant, and impactful for diverse teaching teams. 

Debra has also led targeted PLD in mathematics, integrating assessment for learning and culturally responsive practice to support pedagogical change. Her leadership in curriculum design and intervention planning - both as a school-based mathematics lead and as a national PLD facilitator - demonstrates her ability to tailor support to diverse school contexts. 

She holds a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) from the University of Canterbury and the Cox Campus Structured Literacy Program Certificate (IDA Accredited). 

Outside of work, Debra enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons. Together, they make the most of the Wairarapa’s outdoors, from sports and camping to exploring its beaches, rivers, and walks.