Te Awamutu local up for New Zealand Woman of Influence Award for work in education sector

Founder of Learning Matters and Te Awamutu local Carla McNeil is in the running to become the 2021 New Zealand Woman of Influence. Photo / Nita Meyer.

A Te Awamutu local who has spent at least the past six years helping children with learning differences is in the running to be named the 2021 New Zealand Woman of Influence.

Carla McNeil, founder of Learning Matters, is among a collection of wahine in the running for the awards – CEOs, students, researchers, historians, grassroots social enterprises and those on the world stage.

Carla is up for the award within the Business Enterprise category and a supreme winner will also be named.

"I am very humbled to be among the other finalists announced, so many inspirational women doing amazing things. It's an absolute honour just to be nominated," says Carla.

"This will help to raise more awareness of the need for improved teaching practices and support for classroom teachers in the area of evidence-based literacy instruction."

As a mother of child with learning differences and experience as a former teacher and principal, Carla came to realise that some changes needed to be made.

She spent years researching and undertaking professional development to be where she is now – providing learning support to children with literacy differences across the country through Learning Matters, using an evidence-based approach called
structured literacy.

The approach is recognised as the gold standard for teaching students with dyslexia.

"I am proud to share that I have founded a business that is now nationally recognised and is influencing the actions of many other educators, parents and advocates," says Carla.

In 2020, her and her team developed and launched iDeal Approach, which is an online programme that builds knowledge and provides tools to teachers to be able to effectively teach foundational literacy through a structured literacy approach.

"The development of the iDeal Approach to structured literacy has been a game changer for exposing the science of reading research findings across New Zealand as well as providing a solution for teachers to implement quality teaching practices with efficiency, effectiveness and increasing ease," says Carla.

"I'm also very excited for the future as we continue to build this groundswell and grow the accessibility to an evidence-based structured literacy approach to as many tamariki as we can across New Zealand and internationally."

Learning Matters employs 22 staff, and has guided more than 1300 teachers, specialists and school leaders across 200 schools to move forward with their knowledge and practice in literacy.

"I am grateful for the team who have stuck by me to bring this to fruition and those who have recently joined our team bringing specialist skills. And of course, I wouldn't have achieved all I have without the unconditional support of my family," says Carla.

The awards celebration and announcement of the winners is expected to go ahead on February 10 at Shed 10 on Auckland's waterfront.