Rise to the Challenge: AA Directions profiles TTI trainees
28 September 2026
AA Directions magazine has profiled two Teachers’ Institute trainees in its ‘Rise to the Challenge’ series, which explores Kiwis who tackle change with positivity, courage and entrepreneurial verve.
The magazine’s Spring 2026 issue profiles TTI Secondary trainee Joshua Le Mon who overcame mental health challenges and the passing of his wife to retrain to become a high school teacher at a small, predominantly Pasifika, boys’ school in Auckland, leaving behind a lucrative, but unfulfilling career.
Writer Vanessa Tretheway also spoke to Secondary trainee Stephanie Oldham who swapped a global career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry for life in the classroom, opting for more time with her children and family.
The Teachers’ Institute CEO Heather McRae told the magazine:
“Many people with a raft of adventures and experiences behind them turn to teaching because of the intrinsic value it adds to their lives and the students they teach."
“It’s an enriching and fulfilling experience to share knowledge with young people, but there’s an even deeper purpose to teaching. We prepare our young people for life ahead. This includes imparting a sense of belonging, engaging with their cultures and deepening their resilience to change.”
Thank you to the team at AA Directions for spotlighting teaching as a career and celebrating our
incredible trainees.
