News & Events

Ever wondered what a Resource Teacher of the Deaf (RTD) actually does? In the video below, Mark Bolger, our Deputy Head of Outreach, breaks it all down.

RTDs are everywhere, but the travel never stops

Did you know we have RTDs based right across Aotearoa? Even though they're placed throughout the country, reaching every student who needs support still involves a lot of travel.

Every day looks different

RTDs work with tamariki from the very young right through to high school, and it's common for an RTD to support students across that entire age range in a single day. Every student is different too, each with their own learning needs and hearing levels. The schools our RTDs visit vary just as much, from large schools in main centres to small rural schools.

Direct support, indirect support, and thinking on your feet

Mark shares the difference between direct and indirect support, and how working across both requires an RTD to be flexible, think fast, and adapt in the moment.

It's all about relationships

A big part of an RTD's role is building relationships with students, whānau, teachers, teacher aides, SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Learning Support Coordinators, Ministry of Education staff, Advisors on Deaf Children, Audiologists, and the Cochlear Implant Programme, to name just a few.

And we can't forget the support from our colleagues at Ko Taku Reo, including the Online Service, Enrolled School staff, NZSL@School support services, and the BiBi team. That's a lot of connections for one RTD to manage on any given day!

Watch the video below to hear more from Mark about what makes this role so unique.