Trisha Wessels

Compassionate, creative and effective Teacher with valuable experience in classroom administration, professional development and project planning. Equipped with extensive background in versatile education environments. Student-centric instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as member of teaching team. Well-versed in classroom and online technologies.

• I have passed my Degree in Education with distinctions in my final year
• I have worked in schools with diverse cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds
• I have been head of subject in Life Skills and a team leader for our Grade 4 group
• I have been assigned as the netball organiser for our school which included, but was not limited to, arranging: all games for all teams, arranging camps, arranging exams for the teachers, arranging the personal development for our school’s coaches, umpires and players, ensuring events ran smoothly and all catering purposes/responsibilities was undertaken for home games
• I have been part of numerous committees such as social, cultural and sport throughout high school, university and in workplaces
• During my teaching in New Zealand (at Ashburton Borough School) I have undergone a Te Reo Māori course that was not compulsory, but I wanted to gain more knowledge of the language and feel confident to speak basic reo. I also ensured that I was engaged during my own class’s Te Reo Māori lessons that they received twice a week by a experienced and educated Te Reo Māori teacher
• I am also fluent in both English and Afrikaans (reading, writing and speaking)
• I have sound knowledge of how the NZ Curriculum works and what it consists of
• I have been part of an IB school (Ashburton Borough School), following PYP and which allows student-led inquiries and therefore I also encourage student-agency in my classroom
• I have worked collaboratively in both ECE and primary environments and know what this looks like
• I have undergone various Professional Development programmes, such as the PB4L behaviour management programme, PYP workshops, CR and RP etc.
• I have been part of various in-school literacy PD’s to improve the reading and writing of students and I am confident in my abilities to do so
• I have sound knowledge of the PaCT framework and how this works – also how to unpack how to make judgements on students and their abilities
• I have a good understanding of how to incorporate DT in the classroom
• Being part of an Enviro-school with gold status has allowed me to be more aware of my surroundings and environment and how we treat it to be better for our planet
• I have also undergone training in the IYT programme
• I have undergone various Literacy PD, hosted by Sheena Cameron
• My knowledge about the Zones of Regulation is implemented in my classroom as a daily must do
• I am familiar and confident with the development of the RBL profile in school and how that translates into the classroom
• I am an accredited Impact Coach with regards to the RBL profiles
• I have been the WSL representative for the course of 2023 at Nelson Christian Academy, and in 2024 and 2025 at Faith City School. I have also held the responsibility of Cultural Responsive Representative in both schools mentioned above
• I have done a school-wide PD from which I graduated, that involves the Tikanga of Te Ao Māori (Ka ao ka awatea) in 2023
• I have been involved in Kapa Haka for the past two years and have supported the development of the Tikanga of Te Reo Māori in our school, developing the lesson plans and content school-wide and thoroughly implement various Māori tasks, games, waiata, dancing and well-being activities in my everyday classroom. I have also organised and coordinated each new term’s Mihi Whakatau to welcome new whānau and tamariki to the school

Even though I feel confident in a lot of areas of teaching, I know there is still room left for learning, growing and development. I will continue to endeavour to do so throughout my practice and pedagogy to ensure the best and most effective learning for my students, as I am a reflective and adaptive individual in my teaching profession

• Reminding myself that each individual I am working with is unique and different, is very important to me as a teacher and therefore my philosophy is to develop each child into the best versions of themselves. To believe in themselves and their own possibilities and assure them that they have the potential to do anything that they set their mind to, is extremely important to me. Children need to be fostered and taken care of in a school environment and be encouraged and motivated.
• I aim to let my students feel like I am their biggest fan and supporter and that I do believe in them. Once you earn this trust from a child, you can achieve that much more with them in becoming the best they can be. Core to my teaching philosophy is to ensure that I connect with my students professionally and personally to strengthen the quality of the relationship I form with them and their families.