Barbara Perry has been helping international educators learn from New Zealand’s experience.

Natural disasters can strike anywhere, at any time. For children caught up in the disaster, it is important that their education is disrupted as little as possible, but their teachers will also have been affected.

Barbara surveyed principals of schools in Canterbury after the Christchurch earthquakes, with a focus on how they remained resilient as school leaders. She was able to identify the structures and supports they drew on, to be able to carry on.

With the Kaikoura earthquake occurring recently, Barbara’s findings are immediately relevant in the New Zealand context. She has also presented recently to international educators in London, to enable them to apply in their own countries the lessons learned from Canterbury principals.