“Life-changing, fun and exciting:” A year of teacher training.

19 October 2026

Kate worked as a copywriter for over a decade. She’d gone as high as she could in her industry and, while on maternity leave, made the decision that it was time to move on.

“I knew I wanted to do teaching, but I wanted to make sure that being in a school was right for me. So I became a teacher aide and haven't looked back since.”

Already based in a school as a teacher aide, and wanting to become a registered teacher, Kate decided to approach her school with a business case: for the school to become a Teachers’ Institute partner school.

“When I was researching where I wanted to study, TTI made the most sense. I figured the best way to learn is by doing something while it's scaffolded and supported, and TTI allows you to practice teaching for the majority of the year. When I brought the business case to the school, there were so many benefits for them as well that it all just worked out.”

As well as being in the classroom from day one, Kate has valued other elements of the programme, including the away practicum (all TTI trainees are based in a home school for the year and take part in an away practicum) and TTI on-campus workshops in the Textile Centre, Parnell, Auckland.

“You make so many friends who are training at different schools around Auckland, but facing the same things you’re experiencing.”

Asked to sum up her year in three words, Kate doesn't hesitate: "life-changing, fun, and exciting." The proudest moments, she says, aren't about one big breakthrough, but a string of small ones. "Sometimes a student will tell you you've made a difference, or answer a question you weren’t expecting they could answer. Those little moments stack up."

Looking ahead to having her own classroom next year, she’s looking forward to building her own routines from scratch.

"I've adopted a lot of amazing routines from my mentor, but I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can do from the beginning, and how I can tailor them to feel more authentically me. I think back to the lessons I've observed as a teacher aide, and I've seen so many teachers of different subjects at different stages of their career. The main thing that stands out to me is a teacher who's able to be fully present and reacting to the students in the room. I think that only comes with experience and practice.

“In five years’ time, I hope to be a teacher who is present in the room with my students, responding to their needs, adapting the plan to suit them, and hopefully helping them feel empowered and ready for success. What I love about The Teachers’ Institute is that we have a year head start on getting to that stage.”

Kate is training to be a Secondary school English teacher at The Teachers’ Institute.

Learn more about training to become a teacher with TTI.