You are here
Esther Smaill
Job Title:
Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher
- PhD (in Education), University of Otago
- EdM (School Leadership), Harvard University
- DipTchg (Primary), University of Auckland
- BMus (Performance), University of Auckland
- Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
- Diploma in Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Esther joined the NZCER team in January 2020. Her PhD, which she completed in 2018, showcases the exciting ways in which teachers can use their involvement in moderation to establish assessment-focused
professional learning communities. Esther has held research and lecturing positions at the University of Otago, where she contributed to New Zealand’s National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement.
Esther is a registered primary school teacher and has taught in both Auckland and Dunedin.
In addition to her expertise in assessment and teacher professional learning, Esther is a speaker of te reo Māori and is passionate about the revitalisation of the language.
Research projects that I am currently leading:
| Project | Project leader(s) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| He reo ka tipu i ngā kura: Growing te reo Māori in schools | Esther Smaill Nicola Bright | |
| Teaching and Learning Research Initiative | Esther Smaill |
Research outputs
| Year published | Title | Publication type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Decolonising our approaches to educational research—Learning from our shared experiences at Rangahau Mātauranga o Aotearoa (NZCER) | Working paper | |
| 2024 | Poipoia kia puāwai: How schools support ākonga Māori and Pacific students to attain University Entrance | Research report | |
| 2022 | An Examination of the Curriculum-Levelling Construct | Research report | |
| 2022 | He reo ka tipu i ngā kura: Growing te reo Māori in English-medium schools—Findings report | Research report | |
| 2022 | New assessment developments in Aotearoa | Journal article | |
| 2021 | Aronuitia te reo: Te reo Māori resource deck | Classroom resource | |
| 2021 | He reo ka tipu i ngā kura: Growing te reo Māori in schools—Literature review | Literature review |