Nominated by Nicki Dabner, Chair, College of Education Learning and Teaching Committee
Susanna is described by her students variously as "brilliant" and "a bloody good teacher who takes awesome classes".
Her teaching portfolio demonstrated to the awards' panel her ongoing commitment to designing and delivering quality course experiences which support all students to prepare as well as they can, for mathematics teaching. She notes that for many students, mathematics is an area of anxiety and stress and that her overall aim is to support them to overcome this and step into the classroom with courage, confidence and knowledge.
Her colleagues cite her detailed and focused preparation for her lectures and workshops, her regular refinements and improvements to her Learn site and her attention to detail and excellent communication and connection skills for her distance and regional students. Her focussed yet friendly approach to teaching provides an exemplar to colleagues. She puts considerable time into ensuring that her courses incorporate a bicultural aspect and also cater for Pasifika and other diverse learners.
Sue says that teaching was her first and only career choice and that she intends to continue to teach with passion to ensure success for her students and tamariki in schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.
