Two teachers from the Wellington region have secured the opportunity to study in the United States as part of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching programme. Rachael Kneepkens and Mary Bluck will head to the US in August to exchange expertise and carry out their chosen research at either the University of Rochester in New York or Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Rachael is the Special Education Needs Coordinator for Arahunga Special School, at Ōtaki College. She will be researching how we motivate and support disengaged students at secondary school.
“My research has come about from many years of working with students with additional needs, who then become disengaged at school. I’m really interested in how we motivate students and in particular how we can establish support within the wider community to keep them in school,” says Rachael.
“I really love the idea of being able to connect with other educators to share our ideas, experiences and expertise,” says Rachael. “I felt like this was a once-in-a-career opportunity to learn, grow and bring something meaningful back home. It’s not just about personal development, but about contributing in a way that has a wider impact.”
Putting herself out there into an unfamiliar environment, Rachael describes as daunting but she says that’s outweighed by the excitement of the opportunity for experience and personal growth. On return she hopes to develop a school-wide strategy to re-engage students who are physically in school, but emotionally and socially disconnected.
“This isn’t just about attendance; it’s about belonging, support, and purpose. I am hoping to put together a programme that specifically supports these students.”
Mary is a senior kāiako at Te kura O Ngā Puna Waiora / Newtown School in Wellington where she teaches in the junior school. Her research topic came out of an opportunity to look at positive play in the playground as part of a Kāhui Ako / Communities of Learning in school lead.
“This led to further questions and ideas around further research in play especially the role in accelerating learning in our English language learners at school,” says Mary who will be researching how indigenous playground play may be introduced into the classroom to accelerate learning.
This will be Mary’s first time experiencing full-time learning and it is one of the reasons she applied for the award although she says she worries about leaving her lovely class.
After returning from the four-month programme, Mary plans to use her learnings to create and collaborate with mana mokopuna to share what she’s learnt widely.
About the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching programme
This programme is for highly accomplished New Zealand teachers in primary or secondary schooling to participate in an intensive professional development programme at an American university. The programme includes academic coursework, leadership training, instructional technology seminars, and opportunities to observe, co-teach, and share their expertise in US elementary and secondary schools. Each participant will also complete an individual or group project relevant to their teaching.
The programme operates in 15 countries and brings together around 22 primary and secondary educators. It prepares participants to serve as educational leaders, equipping them to apply and share their learning with colleagues and students in their home communities.
Applications are currently open for the 2027 year, closing 30 April 2026.
For more information about the programme: Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching – Fulbright New Zealand