Celebrating 40 years of NZTC: A Q&A with NZTC Alumni and Leader of Kindercare ATs

Early Childhood Education

As our 40th anniversary celebrations come to an end, NZTC Alumni and Kindercare Teacher Registration Supervisor, Lyn Forster, reflects on how her studies with the college have impacted her career and shares a special message for NZTC in its 40th year.

How did you come to be involved with NZTC?

My journey first began as a student of Kindercare Early Childhood College, when in 1998, I received the Certificate in ECE Teaching and top student award. Under the banner of NZTC, I then went on to graduate with the Diploma of Teaching ECE in 2000. After teaching for several years, I progressed to Centre Director, and then in 2003 I was offered a role with NZTC as RPL Coordinator, Tutor and then Lecturer. I returned to Kindercare as the Teacher Registration Supervisor in 2006, before deciding to study the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) with NZTC in 2012. More recently in 2019, it was an honour to join the ITE working group.

How do you feel your studies with the college have helped you in your ECE career?

My entire teaching career has been wrapped around the benefits and the impact of my study at NZTC, from the time I entered teaching in New Zealand to the present day. I owe my successes and the challenges I have overcome to NZTC. I have grown in confidence, wisdom and personal strength over these many years.

In your mind, what are the top three attributes that make an excellent Associate Teacher?

A teacher who has the ability to connect with a student, a teacher who is a teacher at heart, and a teacher who has had good days and bad days and still cares.

What advice would you share with fellow Associate Teachers?

You should always: teach who you are, value the student as a person and trust others and they will trust you.

Do you have a message to share with our NZTC community as we celebrate 40 years?

Thank you NZTC for all that you have done for me and many, many other passionate teachers out there. Without NZTC I would not be the teacher, mentor, and person I am today…still passionate about children, teaching, and making a difference in the lives of children, students and teachers.

“Teaching is the finest work I know” (Parker Palmer, 1998).