Derek’s blog

Derek’s Blog, launched in 2003, serves as a platform for sharing thoughts and reflections related to his work. It offers over 20 years of searchable posts, categorized by the tags below. Feel free to comment, as your feedback contributes to ongoing reflection and future posts.

Education Leadership Educational Transformation

What are we fighting for…?

June 15, 2024

We all know what we oppose and fight against: totalitarianism, fascism, racism, sexism, loneliness, and meaninglessness. But we are silent in the face of the challenge: What are we fighting […]

A tale of two principals

June 8, 2024

Image source: CanvaAI The ways in which we operate as educators and as an education system are determined by our personal and shared beliefs about education, and the philosophical frameworks […]

End of an Era? – 34 years of funding for ICT PD

June 1, 2024

Student teachers need to be confident, competent users of computers withsome understanding of how IT can facilitate learning experiences anddevelop thinking processes. Courses must continue to focus upon basic(computer) training […]

Curriculum Environmental

What will we leave our grandchildren?

May 27, 2024

The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important. . Martin Luther King, Jr An unexpected hospital stay for some surgery left me with time to ponder […]

Digital Education Leadership Educational Transformation Learning Ecosystems

Understanding Systemness

May 18, 2024

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing ‘patterns of change’ rather than ‘static snapshots.” Peter Senge I’ve […]

Education Leadership Educational Transformation research and papers

Improving Quality and Equity in NZ Schools

May 12, 2024

New Zealand has a deep pool of highly talented and motivated teaching individuals, but the system is performing below potential. Introduction: Ensuring the tide lifts all boats (OECD) The New […]

Education Leadership Pedagogy

The Tyranny of Desire

April 10, 2024

Don’t get seduced by the next shiny thing, because you’ll get caught up chasing shiny things and that will keep you from addressing what you really need to accomplish. Joe […]

Education Leadership Educational Transformation Environmental Learning Ecosystems

The Tyranny of the Urgent

April 5, 2024

“Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important” Charles E. Hummel, the author of “Tyranny of the Urgent” A visiting academic from the US who is […]

conference entry Education Leadership Educational Transformation Learner Agency Learning Ecosystems

Developing System Leadership

March 30, 2024

Refresh, Reconnect, Refocus is the perfect title for this professional development. It does just that. A fantastic retreat, space to think, relax and start to reconnect. Participant feedback Last week […]

Education Leadership Educational Transformation

It’s about system, not structure

February 27, 2024

“When the country is in chaos everyone has a plan to fix it – but it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.” Proverbs 28:2 (Living Bible) […]

Education Leadership Learner Agency Pedagogy

Rights and Responsibilities

February 10, 2024

“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” Anne Frank Around this time last year I wrote a blog post titled “Give a S***”, describing my […]

Educational Transformation Learner Agency Open, Distance & Flexible Education Pedagogy research and papers

Science of Learning

February 3, 2024

The science of learning and development (SoLD) refers to the growing body of research from the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and other developmental and learning sciences, which tells an optimistic […]

Educational Transformation Learner Agency

Self directed learning

January 18, 2024

“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” John Dewey Earlier this week […]

Education Leadership Educational Transformation

Looking for more ambition in 2024!

January 6, 2024

“There’s no definite roadmap for a successful moonshot; the path is littered with obstacles and failure. It takes passion, grit, luck and sometimes a decade or more of hard work to […]

News & current events

OECD report video

December 17, 2023

In a recent post I described some of the things I’d heard and reflected on during the webinar launch of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 Aotearoa […]

Education Leadership Educational Transformation

Growing as Principals

December 15, 2023

Announcing an exciting opportunity for New Zealand principals to engage in an innovative professional learning programme in 2024! Are you a primary or secondary school principal in a New Zealand […]

research and papers

Making sense of the data – PISA22

December 9, 2023

PISA has helped policy makers lower the cost of political action by backing difficult decisions with evidence – but it has also raised the political cost of inaction by exposing […]

Guidance for educators on AI

December 2, 2023

“Generative AI presents opportunities for students and teachers, but there are also risks such as the privacy and safety of school children. Australian Minister for Education, Jason Clare As an […]

The challenges we face in education

November 8, 2023

In crisis, it is acceptable to have more questions than answers. In crisis there’s no room for ‘not invented here’. In crisis we should all be learners. H.R.H. Princess Laurentien […]

Agency By Design – new book available

October 14, 2023

This is the book I wish I’d had when I started my job as principal of a brand new school. Annette Thompson (School Principal) I’m really excited to be […]

Please get in touch to discuss your plans. FutureMakers is an approved provider of Ministry-funded, regionally allocated professional development (RAPLD). Search for Derek Wenmoth on the MoE website’s provider list when making an application.

What others say

The Learning Environments Australasia Executive Committee has received a lot of positive feedback, which is greatly due to your wealth of knowledge and information you imparted on our large audience, your presentation has inspired a range of educators, architects and facility planners and for this we are grateful.

Daniel Smith Chair Learning Environments Australasia

Derek and Maurie complement each other well and have the same drive and passion for a future education system that is so worthwhile being part of. Their presentation and facilitation is at the same time friendly and personal while still incredibly professional. I am truly grateful to have had this experience alongside amazing passionate educators and am inspired to re visit all aspects of my leadership. I have a renewed passion for our work as educational leaders.

Karyn Gray Principal, Raphael House Rudolf Steiner

I was in desperate need of a programme like this. This gave me the opportunity to participate in a transformative journey of professional learning and wellbeing, where I rediscovered my passion, reignited my purpose, and reconnected with my vision for leading in education. Together, we got to nurture not just academic excellence, but also the holistic wellbeing of our school communities. Because when we thrive, so does the entire educational ecosystem.

Tara Quinney Principal, St Peter's College, Gore

Refresh, Reconnect, Refocus is the perfect title for this professional development. It does just that. A fantastic retreat, space to think, relax and start to reconnect. Derek and Maurie deliver a balance of knowledge and questioning that gives you time to think about your leadership and where to next. Both facilitators have the experience, understanding, connection and passion for education, this has inspired me to really look at the why for me!

Jan McDonald Principal, Birkdale North School

Engaged, passionate, well informed facilitators who seamlessly worked together to deliver and outstanding programme of thought provoking leadership learning.

Dyane Stokes Principal, Paparoa Street School

A useful and timely call to action. A great chance to slow down, reflect on what really drives you, and refocus on how to get there. Wonderful conversations, great connections, positive pathways forward.

Ursula Cunningham Principal, Amesbury School

RRR is a standout for quality professional learning for Principals. Having been an education PLD junkie for 40 years I have never before attended a programme that has challenged me as much because of its rigor, has satisfied me as much because of its depth or excited me as much because of realising my capacity to lead change. Derek and Maurie are truly inspiring pedagogical, authentic leadership experts who generously and expertly share their passion, wisdom and skills to help Principal's to focus on what is important in schools and be the best leader they can be.

Cindy Sullivan Principal, Kaipara College

Derek Wenmoth is brilliant. Derek connects powerful ideas forecasting the future of learning to re-imagine education and create resources for future-focused practices and policies to drive change. His work provides guidance and tools for shifting to new learning ecosystems through innovations with a focus on purpose, equity, learner agency, and lifelong learning. His work is comprehensive and brings together research and best practices to advance the future of teaching and learning. His passion, commitment to innovation for equity and the range of practical, policy and strategic advice are exceptional.

Susan Patrick, CEO, Aurora Institute

I asked Derek to work with our teachers to reenergise our team back into our journey towards our vision after the two years of being in and out of 'Covid-ness'. Teachers reported positively about the day with Derek, commenting on how affirmed they felt that our vision is future focused. Teachers expressed excitement with their new learning towards the vision, and I've noticed a palpable energy since the day. Derek also started preparing our thinking for hybrid learning, helping us all to feel a sense of creativity rather than uncertainty. The leadership team is keen to see him return!

Kate Christie | Principal | Cashmere Ave School

Derek has supported, informed and inspired a core group of our teachers to be effective leads in our college for NPDL. Derek’s PLD is expertly targeted to our needs.

Marion Lumley | Deputy Principal |Ōtaki College

What a task we set Derek - to facilitate a shared vision and strategy with our Board and the professional and admin teams (14 of us), during a Covid lockdown, using online technology. Derek’s expertise, skilled questioning, strategic facilitation and humour enabled us to work with creative energy for 6 hours using a range of well-timed online activities. He kept us focussed on creating and achieving a shared understanding of our future strategic plan. Derek’s future focussed skills combined with an understanding of strategy and the education sector made our follow up conversations invaluable. Furthermore, we will definitely look to engage Derek for future strategic planning work.

Sue Vaealiki, Chair of Stonefields Collaborative Trust

Our Principal PLG has worked with Derek several times now, and will continue to do so. Derek is essentially a master facilitator/mentor...bringing the right level of challenge, new ideas & research to deepen your thinking, but it comes with the level of support needed to feel engaged, enriched and empowered after working with him.

Gareth Sinton, Principal, Douglas Park School

Derek is a highly knowledgeable and inspirational professional learning provider that has been guiding our staff in the development of New Pedagogies’ for Deep Learning. His ability to gauge where staff are at and use this to guide next steps has been critical in seeing staff buy into this processes and have a strong desire to build in their professional practice.

Andy Fraser, Principal, Otaki College