Teacher passionate about providing opportunities

Palmerston North educator Kerry Howard is calling it a day after lengthy career working to provide equal opportunities for children with special education needs.

The Central Normal School teacher has been working in education for 43 years and has been at Central Normal for 23 years. She is retiring at the end of this term today.

Howard, who turns 65 next month, spent the latter half of her career in special education, working with children with learning difficulties or disabilities, and she believes in all children having the same opportunities in learning.

She said education wasmore inclusive now and ‘‘far better’’ for children with special education needs.

‘‘Schools reflect the wider community.

‘‘Children with special needs are part of the community, the same as any other child.

‘‘They should be in school doing the same things and having the same opportunities ...

‘‘The opportunities shouldn’t be different to any other school. That’s something I’m passionate about.’’

The way children with learning difficulties were treated had changed since she started, when children with disabilities and intellectual impairment of all ages were in the same class.

‘‘We’d never heard of autism or [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].’’

She said she had worked in all sorts of schools, but Central Normal, which had trainee teachers, a bilingual unit and an ongoing resourcing scheme for children with special needs, was a highlight of her career.

‘‘It doesn’t matter who comes in, they’re going to find somebody [at school] that is like-minded. There’s such a cross section of people, same with the children and their families.’’

Originally from Manawatu¯, she started teaching in 1977 and worked at Ashhurst School, Parkland School and Takaro School, before working at Keith Street School and Upokongaro School in Whanganui, then joining Central Normal, where she has been assistant principal for the past 17 years.

She was a general classroom teacher, then started working in special education once she moved to Whanganui.

Her first grandchild is due to be born at the start of next year, so in retirement Howard will have more time for family.

She had always said she wanted to retire when she still loved her job, which was what she was doing.

PHOTOS: DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Central Normal School teacher Kerry Howard is retiring after more than 40 years in education. She works with Kataraina Southcombe, 10, left, and Katelyn Flutey, 10.