Please read the following Press release

Denise Torrey, Principal – Tumuaki of Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo was awarded a prestigious Woolf Fisher Fellowship by Dr Nigel Evans today at a special ceremony held onsite at the Christchurch primary school. The fellowship is one of only three awarded to primary school principals annually and one of around 15 awarded annually. It is widely regarded as one of the highest honours in New Zealand public education.

The award proved an overwhelming acknowledgment for Denise who is in her 37th year working in the education sector. “There have been few times in my life where I have felt so overcome. It was a complete surprise. When I began teaching, I had no firm expectations, just a desire to be my best self, serve the profession and make a difference for kids. I feel incredibly honoured, humbled and excited, to be acknowledged in this way.”

The fellowship allows Ms Torrey to undertake an eight-week study trip to North America and the United Kingdom and includes a five-day course at The Principals' Center - Harvard Graduate School of Education.

She sees the award as an opportunity to further improve outcomes for students both locally and nationally. “I’ve always believed in the concept of ‘the village’ and that’s why I have always involved myself in other projects,” she says.

Ms Torrey has worked for the Education Review Office, with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, the Teacher’s Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, served as President of both the Canterbury Primary Principal’s Association and the New Zealand Principal’s Association. She was a member of the Tomorrow’s Schools advisory team and is currently a member of the advisory group who design and lead the Mana Ake mental health and wellbeing project in Canterbury and Kaikōura schools. She is currently part of the Kahukura community of practice and is Principal at Te Kōmanawa Rowley School in a joint initiative between Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo and the Ministry of Education.

“My mantra has always been ‘create, innovate and initiate’ and I believe we need to look outwards to improve within. I’m always keen to look at how we strengthen leadership to improve outcomes for kids, because there is a significant body of evidence to show the two are linked, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to explore this subject more and share this with others upon my return,” she says.

Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo Board Chair, Stephanie Muller, believes the fellowship is richly deserved. “Denise has given so much at both a local and national level. She is incredibly focussed on her pursuit of equity for learners, student wellbeing and best practice in education and I think this fellowship is recognition of that. Because of the way in which Denise actively collaborates with others within the professional community, I believe the knowledge gained will directly drive benefits for teachers and students within the school and wider professional community,” she says.